Three-Day Advanced Volunteer Training on Disaster Response Skills Successfully Concluded
A special three-day training program titled “Advanced Volunteer Training: Rescue, First Aid, and Survival” was successfully concluded at Shubhoshondhya Sea Beach and the adjacent forest in Taltali, Barguna. The training, aimed at enhancing capabilities to handle emergencies, conduct search and rescue operations, and improve life-saving skills in disaster-prone coastal areas, ran from October 9 to October 11, 2026.
Organized under the “Preparedness and Resilience through Organised Humanitarian Outreach and Readiness (PROHOR)” project and implemented by the non-governmental development organization JAGO NARI, the training focused on equipping volunteers with practical skills for disaster preparedness, rapid response, rescue operations, and life-saving actions during crises.
Throughout the three-day program, various activities were conducted to build the volunteers’ capacity to operate in real-life scenarios through a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice. The curriculum included practical demonstrations of emergency rescue and safe evacuation with the assistance of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, as well as training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), managing choking emergencies, and search and rescue operations.
Additionally, key components of the training covered techniques for rope knots and lashings, constructing temporary shelters and safe tree platforms, ensuring safe water supplies during disasters, survival strategies using local materials, and exercises in raft-making and aquatic survival. These activities served to strengthen the volunteers’ teamwork, leadership, rapid decision-making abilities, and capacity to act responsibly during crisis situations.
Experienced trainers from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, Bangladesh Scouts, and disaster response sectors conducted the various sessions. The program provided volunteers with opportunities to gain practical experience through hands-on exercises and group activities.
Day 1 (September 9, 2026): The activities commenced with the arrival of trainees and the pitching of tents. Following ice-breaking activities and an inaugural briefing, the day concluded with a night spent in tents under the stars, offering a unique survival experience.
Day 2 (September 10, 2026): The day began with a beach cleanup drive (”Sandy Steps for a Clean Shore”) and a running session. This was followed by relaxation and meditation sessions based on the Quantum Method. Subsequently, the camp was formally inaugurated.
The opening ceremony was attended by Atish Sarkar, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Taltali, as the chief guest, while Md. Shahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge, Taltali Police Station and Md. Ziaul Islam, Taltali Range Officer, attended as special guests. Duke Ibn Amin, Director of Resource Mobilization and Communication at JAGO NARI, outlined the program’s objectives and future plans, while Selina Akter, President of JAGO NARI’s Executive Committee, delivered the vote of thanks. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Dr. Md. Motiur Rahman, Principal of Barguna Government College and Camp Chief of the Advanced Volunteer Training.
Later in the day, rescue operations and fire-extinguishing drills were conducted with the assistance of the Fire Service and Civil Defence. Additional activities included rope mastery (knot-tying), life skill development, and risk reduction training. A simulation exercise titled “Operation Rescue” was held under the supervision of Army Commandos and Red Sergeants, followed by an entertaining cultural evening.
Day 3 (September 11, 2026): On the final day, activities included raft construction and water safety drills, Quantum meditation, and the creation of temporary tree platforms. Participants also received emergency first aid training covering CPR and choking relief, as well as instruction on survival mastery—focusing on securing safe drinking water and utilizing local materials for survival during disasters. Finally, this vibrant three-day event concluded successfully with a closing ceremony and certificate distribution. Professor Dr. Md. Motiur Rahman, Principal of Barguna Government College and Camp Chief of the ‘Advance Volunteer Training,’ presided over the closing session. Speakers included Hosne Ara Hasi, Chief Executive of JAGO NARI; Md. Abul Bashar, Taltali Upazila Education Officer; and journalist Rafiqul Islam Montu, among others.
The organizers expressed hope that such training would make youth volunteers more skilled and confident in saving lives through disaster risk reduction and rapid response during emergencies.
JAGO NARI believes that skilled volunteers play a crucial role in pre-disaster preparedness, rapid and coordinated response during disasters, and post-disaster humanitarian assistance. Building a prepared, skilled, and responsible volunteer team at the local level is the need of the hour, particularly to tackle the risks of cyclones, storm surges, and other disasters in Bangladesh’s coastal regions. This training represents an effective initiative to enhance such capabilities.
JAGO NARI hopes that by applying the knowledge and skills gained through this training, volunteers will be able to play a more effective role in disaster preparedness, emergency rescue, life-saving efforts, and humanitarian assistance in their respective areas. This, in turn, will contribute positively to enhancing the local community’s disaster resilience and overall capacity to cope with disasters.
//JN NewsRoom/13102026//
Published on: Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 12:46 pm ▪ Total View of this Page: 29
