55275

Total Volunteer

41

Upazilla Team Leader

Background of CPP

After the devastating cyclone in 1970, on the request made by the General Assembly of the United Nations, Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) was established in 1972 by the then Bangladesh Red Cross Society ( now Bangladesh Red Crescent Society-BDRCS) with the assistance of the then League of Red Cross Societies (now International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies-IFRC). As planned, the CPP activities were initiated in 2031 Units of 204 Unions under 24 Upazilas (sub-districts) of 7 coastal districts spreading from Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar to Patharghata, Barguna with the active participation of 20,310 volunteers. After the inception of the programme, there was an intensive advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh for its advancement and sustainability. Considering the importance of the programme for saving lives and properties of the coastal people, the Government of Bangladesh came forward and took the responsibility of the programme with a view to continuing the programme with effect from July 1973. The programme was approved by the then Honorable Prime Minister, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As a result, it appeared as a joint programme of Government of Bangladesh & Bangladesh Red Crescent Society with the creation and establishment of the Policy Committee headed by Honorable Minister, Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief (MoDMR) and the Implementation Board headed by the Secretary, Minister of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR). Since then CPP has been operationalized with its mandate in the field of disaster management in Bangladesh especially in early warning system, search and rescue, evacuation, sheltering, First Aid, relief distribution and rehabilitation activities. At present, the command area of CPP has been expanded to a great extent increasing its number of volunteers to 55,000+ of which one-third is female and covering 41 upazilas (sub-districts) under 13 coastal districts. CPP has obtained a great name and fame all over the world for its well managed and motivated disaster management activities with a voluntary and dedicated humanitarian spirit. CPP was awarded the “Smith Tumsaroch Award-1998” for its outstanding performance in disaster management field. Now CPP is globally recognized as a model programme in the disaster management field for the last four decades.