Dhaka, July 29 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to strengthen earthquake preparedness by forming a national taskforce and preparing 100,000 volunteers for emergency response in Dhaka and adjacent areas.

At a high-level meeting on earthquake preparedness, he also decided to establish a dedicated earthquake preparedness cell at the Prime Minister's Office, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.

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The meeting, held at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat with the Prime Minister in the chair, conducted a comprehensive review of post-earthquake emergency response, inter-agency coordination, public awaren...