The book launch event of "Avoiding Disaster Deaths: Why Do So Many People Die?"

was held at Bangladesh Medical University.

On June 26th, Bangladesh Medical University successfully organized the launch event for the first edition of the international research-based book titled ‘Avoiding Disaster Deaths: Why Do So Many People Die?’ written by Professor Nibedita Ray-Bennett, Professor of Risk Management, Founding President, Avoidable Deaths Network and Avoidable Deaths Lab; Associate Director, Institute for Environmental Futures School of Business, University of Leicester, UK. This program is organized by Gender for Women’s Health and Research, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU).

The event was presided over by Professor. Dr. Md. Atiqul Haque, Chairman, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Dean, Faculty of Preventive and Social Medicine, BMU. Chief guest was Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam and special guest was Professor Dr. Prof. Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Hawladar, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development), BMU.

Author Professor Nivedita Roy-Bennett recounted her own life experiences that inspired her to write the book and presented some excerpts from the book to the audience. Dr. Fariha Haseen, DPHI, and Regional Coordinator of ADN Bangladesh Chapter gave her commentary on this book. Mr Maqbul Bhuiyan from Data Management AID, faculties from AIUB and Southeast University, Students from Dhaka University and Bangladesh Medical University were present.

Speakers at the event highlighted the book’s core themes, such as the analysis of avoidable disaster deaths, real-world insights from the COVID-19 pandemic in India, and the integration of disaster and health management. It was emphasized that this book is not only a valuable resource for researchers but also for policymakers, educators, students, and socially conscious citizens.

Speakers noted that the ‘Avoidable Disaster Deaths’ (ADD) model presented in the book can make a significant contribution toward achieving ‘The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’ target of reducing disaster-related mortality by the year 2030. The university is committed to promoting relevant research and strategic initiatives in this regard.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the author, Professor Nibedita S. Ray-Bennett, and expressed hope that such timely and impactful research publications will further enrich the University’s academic and research excellence. He also stated that Bangladesh Medical University made an important contribution to the unveiling of the book.

The event ended with the official opening of the book in front of the author.