Disasters in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a national disaster management system based on the disaster management law (Disaster Management Act 2012), the Standing Orders on Disaster 2019 and the National Plan for Disaster Management 2021–2025. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Department of Disaster Management coordinate this framework. At district level, the District Disaster Management Committee works under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner. At Upazila level, the Upazila Disaster Management Committee is led by the subdistrict executive officer (Upazila Nirbahi Officer); Union and Ward committees handle local tasks. Practical implementation may work better in some regions and institutions than in others. The country’s particularly relevant hazards include monsoon floods, flash floods, cyclones, storm surges and coastal flooding, as well as river erosion. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department, abbreviated BMD, also warns of heavy rain, Kalbaishakhi storms, heatwaves, cold waves, earthquakes and tsunamis. Flash floods particularly affect eastern and northern river areas. Cyclones and storm surges mainly threaten the coast, islands and river islands. Landslides occur in hilly areas, while drought and heat may have greater significance in the northwest and the Barind region. Earthquakes pose a rare but serious risk, especially in Dhaka, Sylhet and densely built cities. Fires and industrial incidents are part of disaster management when their main issue is hazard prevention rather than crime or medical treatment. For weather and hazard information, BMD, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, abbreviated FFWC, and the Department of Disaster Management are more reliable than unverified social media posts. BMD publishes weather, marine, river-port, heavy-rain, Kalbaishakhi, heat, cyclone, earthquake and tsunami warnings, among others. FFWC provides water-level, rainfall and flood information. The DDM-AWARE hazard, shelter, road and observation information system (DDM-AWARE) consolidates available information. Through the free IVR number 1090, menu option 1 provides marine information, 2 river-port information, 3 daily weather, 4 cyclone information and 5 flood or river-level information. During cyclones, the cyclone preparedness programme (Cyclone Preparedness Programme) spreads warnings together with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. Volunteers use radio, megaphones, flags, loudspeakers and hand sirens, among other means. Signals 1 to 3 mean preparedness, signal 4 triggers local mobilisation, signals 5 to 7 indicate danger, and signals 8 to 10 indicate great danger. At higher signal levels, residents of at-risk areas should secure their homes, drinking water and shelf-stable food and move to a suitable shelter. CPP also supports warning, evacuation, search and rescue, first aid, and relief and recovery activities. A household should know its emergency plan, the nearest Cyclone Shelter, Flood Shelter or raised disaster shelter (Disaster Killa), and the safe route there. DDM provides maps and databases for this purpose, but a shelter’s location, capacity and open status can change. Waterproof identity documents and other papers, drinking water, dry food, a flashlight, a charged phone with a power bank, necessary medicines, and items for infants, older people and people with disabilities belong in an easily accessible bag. Valuables should be raised above flood level, roofs and boats secured, and livestock protected in time. No one should cross moving floodwater on foot or in a vehicle. During an earthquake, the rule is Drop, Cover and Hold On; afterward, aftershocks and damaged gas, electricity or water lines must be considered. Buildings provide protection during thunderstorms, while open water and isolated trees should be avoided. Evacuations are ordered or supported depending on the situation by the District, Upazila, Union or Ward committee, the Deputy Commissioner, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, CPP, police, the fire service or the coast guard. Shelters are distributed differently by geography and hazard type. DDM maps distinguish, among others, Cyclone Shelters, Flood Shelters and Disaster Killas. There is no documented nationwide uniform reservation procedure, standard fee or mandatory individual registration. Women and children, older people, people with disabilities and displaced households need special protection and priority during evacuation and sheltering under the applicable instructions. Transport and access are organised locally and are not the same everywhere. For acute emergencies, 999 is the free national emergency number available around the clock for police, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and rescue and information assistance. DDM also lists the Disaster Helpline 1090 and 16163 for Fire Service and Civil Defence. A government portal also lists 102 for Fire Service and Civil Defence; because of this discrepancy, the currently locally confirmed number should be used. For maritime and coastal emergencies, the Coast Guard can be reached at 16111. Callers should provide the location, hazard, trapped or injured people and access route. Independent rescue attempts in flood, fire or search areas may endanger more people. DDM and local committees coordinate assistance. Fire Service and Civil Defence handles firefighting and rescue, police support security and traffic management, and the coast guard handles maritime and coastal operations. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and CPP provide, depending on the event, assistance with evacuation, water, food, shelter, hygiene and basic medical care. Clean drinking water, repair of damaged emergency wells, and rapid recording of damage, losses and particularly vulnerable households are part of the immediate response. Government support may be distributed through the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, DDM, the Deputy Commissioner, the District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, the Project Implementation Officer and local administration. Depending on the event and approval, food or cash assistance, rice, corrugated iron sheets, house-building grants, blankets, dry food and food for children or livestock may be available. The food assistance programme (VGF) may provide food based on administrative need. The work-linked assistance programme (KABIKHA) and the infrastructure-linked assistance programme (KABITA) link certain assistance to work or infrastructure projects. Access depends on impact, damage and loss reports, local lists and available resources; there is no documented nationwide automatic entitlement to cash, shelter, compensation or reconstruction. The Citizen’s Charter of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief specifies a maximum of ten working days for institutional grants, three working days for processing relief money or rice, and seven working days for the work-linked or infrastructure-linked programmes. These figures describe processing targets for allocating funds, not guaranteed receipt by every household. Recovery begins with a damage, loss and needs assessment and may then include emergency assistance, repair, reconstruction and the restoration of livelihoods. Depending on the programme, houses, emergency wells, roads, culverts, bridges and protective structures may be repaired or built. Resilient reconstruction and disaster preparedness should be incorporated into planning. The pace depends on the scale of damage, access, allocation of funds and season. Psychosocial support may be provided for particularly vulnerable groups without shifting the focus to medical care. Complaints can be submitted through the Deputy Commissioner, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, the government number 333 or the official grievance redress system. Warnings and assistance should not be obstructed, one’s location should be reported truthfully, and access for rescue and distribution should be kept clear.