Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged for collaboration and cooperation among neighbouring countries to minimise damages caused by natural calamities.

“Collaboration and cooperation among nations, especially the neighbours, is very crucial in facing damages caused by natural disasters of greater magnitude,” she said.

She came out with the comment while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 4th session of the Regional Consultative Group (RCG) on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific here.

She inaugurated the three-day international conference at hotel InterContinental Dhaka.

“We may not be able to prevent natural disasters but can reduce the extent of damages through our prudent works. In Bangladesh, we’re giving the highest importance to mitigation programmes,” Sheikh Hasina said.

Noting that casualties from natural disasters has sharply declined in Bangladesh due to various measures taken by the government, she said, adding, “Bangladesh is now known as a role model of disaster management in the world and now moving towards building resilience.”

She said Bangladesh has been able to reduce casualties in incidents of natural disasters in recent times by taking various measures line improvement in early warning system and dissemination of information, establishment of cyclone, shelters and active engagement of dedicated CPP volunteers to preparedness and response activities.

Mentioning that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had initiated the Cyclone Preparedness Program-CPP in 1972, she said the CPP is one of the first community-based disaster preparedness programmes in the world.