Shama calls for global technology, financial support to improve Bangladesh’s disaster early warning systems

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has urged developed countries to provide Bangladesh with advanced technology and financial support to strengthen its early warning systems and better protect lives and property from disasters.

She made the call at a high-level event titled “Early Warnings for All: Delivering on Our Promise to Protect Everyone”, convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of COP31 on Wednesday (11 November).

The event was attended by heads of state and government and ministers responsible for environment and disaster management, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (13 November).

Fahmida Khanam, secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, accompanied the state minister at the event.

In her remarks, Shama highlighted the development of Bangladesh’s early warning systems since independence, saying they had significantly reduced casualties over the years.

She said Bangladesh had invested heavily in forecasting, building shelters and evacuation, as well as training a large pool of community volunteers to respond to disasters.

Around half of these volunteers are women, she added.

The state minister also reaffirmed her government’s commitment to protecting citizens from the impacts of climate change, with a focus on adopting artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness of the country’s early warning systems.

She said installing advanced early warning systems required substantial financial investment and technological support, urging developed countries to extend assistance.

She also stressed the importance of regional cooperation in sharing data to establish effective early warning systems.