Dhaka: Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Wednesday requested Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and two city corporations in Dhaka to demolish 321 buildings, which have been identified as too dilapidated and risky, within a month and inform the ministry.

The minister made the call from a meeting of the National Earthquake Preparation and Increasing Awareness Committee.

The committee asked Rajuk to submit a complete report on the current status of those buildings within seven working days.

Presided over by Maya, the meeting was also attended by Disaster Management Secretary Shah Kamal, senior representatives from Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh Navy, Fire Service and Civil Defence, city corporations, experts from public and private universities, Rajuk, education, primary education, health, public administration and information ministries.

The committee also asked Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to submit a complete report on buildings that have become tilted in an earthquake on April 13, within seven working days.

The committee requested the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resource, WASA and City Corporations to cut respectively the gas, power and water supplies of those buildings and revoking their holding numbers.

The meeting was informed that sensors are being installed on entry points of power and gas lines to shut the line automatically on the face of big earthquake. Tents worth Taka 100.86 crore have been bought to accommodate citizens temporarily in post-disaster time.

Materials of Tk 69 crore have been distributed among Armed Forces Division and Fire Service to use for search and rescue operations. Buying of materials worth Taka 159 crore is under process. As many as thirty thousand volunteers have been trained to carry out rescue operations in urban areas.