Dhaka, June 23 -- The government has designated 445 safe shelters across Dhaka to protect residents in the event of earthquakes and other emergencies, Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said.

He said a proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to formally designate the locations as "earthquake-safe shelters".

Responding to a question from Gopalganj-1 MP Selimuzzaman Molla in parliament on Tuesday, the minister said 256 of the shelters are located in Dhaka South City Corporation and 189 in Dhaka North City Corporation.

Dulu said the government has also taken steps to prepare 100,000 volunteers in Dhaka and surrounding areas to strengthen post-earthquake rescue and emergency response efforts.

The minist...