The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) successfully organized a Business Continuity Planning (BCP) Training Workshop with the participation of 24 representatives from disaster-prone districts and key stakeholder organizations of Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP). Among the participants, 7 were female, and 17 were male, representing Cox’s Bazar, Kurigram, Bagerhat, Department of Disaster Management, University of Dhaka, NAHAB, and FBCCI.
The training workshop brought together participants from diverse geographical and institutional backgrounds, including 5 participants from Cox’s Bazar, 3 from Kurigram, and 4 from Bagerhat. Additionally, 2 participants represented Dhaka University, while 7 participants were from FBCCI, ensuring rich discussions grounded in real-life business challenges and disaster risk contexts. The training was attended by distinguished experts and resource persons, including Mr. Edwin M. Salonga, Program Lead, and Mr. Kilian Murphy. Their presence added valuable national and international perspectives to the program. The workshop was formally inaugurated with an introductory session by Brigadier General Abu Nayeem Shahidullah, who emphasized the importance of business continuity preparedness, particularly for enterprises operating in disaster-prone areas. In his keynote remarks, he highlighted the need for strategic planning, resilience, and practical preparedness measures to ensure business sustainability during and after disasters. The technical sessions began with Mr. Nitai Chandra Dey Sarker, Director of MiM, who introduced the concept of Business Continuity Planning and conducted a pre-test to assess participants’ baseline knowledge. Participants actively engaged in the assessment, reflecting strong interest and commitment. Subsequently, Mr. Edwin M. Salonga facilitated sessions on “BCM Background and Framework,” “Business Analysis,” and “Identifying Priority Activities.” Participants were grouped based on their districts and guided to analyze disaster impacts on their business value chains, from raw material sourcing to product delivery, and to identify critical priority activities for continuity. Later, Mr. Kilian Murphy shared international experiences on Business Continuity Management from the Philippines, providing practical insights on developing and implementing BCPs in disaster-prone environments. He also guided participants in designing action plans and continuity measures for pre-disaster, during-disaster, and post-disaster phases. Group presentations by participants followed, showcasing the practical application of the concepts learned. The training concluded with a post-test to evaluate knowledge gained, marking the successful technical completion of the workshop. During the Day-2 closing session, the Honorable Administrator of FBCCI, Mr. Md. Rahim Khan, attended the program and encouraged participants through his valuable remarks on the importance of preparedness and business resilience. Mr. Md. Zafar Iqbal ndc, Head of International Affairs, FBCCI, Dr. Mohammed Ahsan Ullah, Senior Project Manager, and representatives from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) also addressed the participants and motivated them to apply the learning in their respective organizations. The workshop concluded with the distribution of certi¬cates among participants by the honorable guests, followed by a photo session, marking the successful completion of the BCP Training Workshop.