Saarc countries to share Met information

Saarc countries have decided to set up 'Saarc Meteorological Research Centre' (SMRC) for undertaking collective research in Meteorology sector.
Office building of Saarc Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) will be completed by June this year in Dhaka, at a cost of Tk. 84.006 million covering a total area of 1.22 acres land.
According to documents of Saarc Secretariat, the land was donated by the government of Bangladesh for the building of this Centre and it is presently functioning on the 6th and 7th floors of Bangladesh Meteorological Department Headquarters building.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh had inaugurated the Saarc Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) on January 2, 1995.
The Government of Bangladesh has allotted 1.22 acres land at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, along with estimated budget allocation of Tk 84.006 million for the construction of SMRC office building
According to Saarc Secretariat, main objectives of the Centre is to establish regional information network on Meteorology, Hydrology, Oceanography, Seismology and Atmospheric Science among Saarc member countries.
The research work of the centre will help to improve the weather prediction techniques to reduce loss of lives and damage to property caused by natural disasters.
The centre will prepare recommendations for establishing, modern and advanced observing system with reliable and timely communication network.
Special research will be made at SMRC to predict severe weather events and climate change and its variability over the Saarc region.
Collection of past Meteorological, Hydrological, Climatological, Seismological, Oceanographic etc data will be made available for conducting further research at the regional level besides organising special observation to undertake research work.
SMRC will further improve the quality of information regarding weather prediction by establishing networking system between the centre and member countries in order to get data to undertake research activities. The details of the functions of the Centre are:
i) Undertaking research relevant to weather predication and better understanding of various aspects of monsoon and other weather phenomena of particular interests to the region.
ii) Compiling climatological information for the region required for weather forecasting and agricultural activities.
iii) Organising special observation or observing periods for monitoring special weather phenomena of interest to the region for collecting data and undertaking research.
iv) Developing a networking system between the centre and the member countries in order to get data to undertake its activities and to provide the processed information to the members.
The centre has four various divisions including Theoretical division, Synoptic division, Documentation division and Administration and Finance division.