President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has emphasized the need for advanced preparedness and proper urban planning to effectively tackle any disaster. Speaking as the chief guest at a program held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, he warned that an earthquake could reduce Dhaka city to rubble due to a lack of planned urban systems.

Highlighting that unplanned urbanization and vulnerable buildings increase disaster casualties, the President urged relevant authorities to focus on housing construction, river preservation, and overall urban management. While noting Bangladesh's significant success in disaster management through early warnings, shelters, and volunteer networks, he stressed the importance of moving from early warning to early action.