Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the National Institute of Disaster Management Research and Training building in Gazipur.

The ceremony was held around 2:00pm at Sataish Chowrasta in the Dhorpara area of Gazipur.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister M Iqbal Hossain, Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan and senior officials were present on the occasion.

After laying the foundation stone, the Prime Minister released fish fry into a pond on the institute premises and also planted a tree sapling.

The institute will be built on around eight acres of land in the Dhorpara area. It will include an administrative building and residential facilities for trainees.

Speaking at the programme, Minister Dulu said the institute will help build skilled manpower for disaster risk reduction through training and research on different types of climate-related disasters.

He said it will also strengthen disaster management capacity and help reduce people’s vulnerability.

The minister said the institute is expected to become one of the leading disaster research and training centres in South Asia and beyond.