Government initiatives include funding for rural employment, 898 cyclone and disaster shelters, modern rescue equipment and stronger emergency coordination as recent floods highlight the scale of the challenge.
Bangladesh is expanding its disaster preparedness measures, including shelters, rescue equipment and early warning systems, as floods, cyclones, tidal surges and river erosion continue to threaten communities across the country.
The government has allocated more than Tk 1,510 crore for the Cash for Work programme and over Tk 1,454 crore for rural infrastructure maintenance in the current fiscal year, according to a budget document.
The initiatives form part of a broader strategy combining emergency response, resilient infrastructure, social protection and community-based disaster management.
Under the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP), around 20 lakh rural workers have been ensured employment, with women accounting for one-third of the beneficiaries.
More than 5 lakh metric tonnes of food grains have also been distributed through the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Kabikha programmes. Humanitarian assistance is continuing for more than 11 lakh forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
The government is also expanding its network of emergency shelters and upgrading the country’s capacity to respond to natural disasters.
It is constructing, renovating and developing 450 cyclone and disaster shelters at a cost of Tk 150 crore, while work is progressing on another 448 shelters in areas vulnerable to river erosion and flooding.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has launched canal excavation and re-excavation programmes to ease waterlogging, improve irrigation and maintain ecological balance. Tree planting is being carried out alongside the projects to support environmental sustainability and limit soil erosion.
Under a 180-day programme covering the first six months of its tenure, the ministry set a target of excavating 1,500 kilometres of canals, rivers and drainage channels and planting 1 lakh saplings.
For central coordination during major emergencies, land has been acquired for a National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), with preparations under way to initiate its construction project.
The government has also procured modern rescue equipment and 11 aerial platform ladders at a cost of around Tk 521 crore for earthquake response and other emergency operations.
Further purchases of modern rescue equipment are planned, alongside efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to manage natural disasters, particularly potential major earthquakes, and reduce casualties and property losses.
The measures come as Bangladesh remains highly vulnerable to natural hazards because of its low-lying terrain, extensive river network, high population density and location near the Bay of Bengal.
The government is also working to improve early warning systems and emergency communications so that disaster information reaches communities more quickly.
Under the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP), full wireless communication coverage has been ensured. An online database containing information on 78,100 volunteers has also been developed to strengthen emergency response capacity.
People across the country can obtain weather forecasts by calling the toll-free number 1090. Satellite technology is being used to strengthen disaster forecasting, while plans have been undertaken to introduce modern satellite-based systems to monitor river erosion.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu told Parliament in June that the government had designated 445 earthquake shelters across the capital, Dhaka, as part of preparations to reduce risks from earthquakes and other urban disasters.
Of those locations, 256 fall under Dhaka South City Corporation and 189 under Dhaka North City Corporation.
Dulu said the government was also preparing a coordinated volunteer database, aiming to mobilise 100,000 volunteers in Dhaka and adjoining areas in the event of a major disaster.
Information on volunteers working with various government and non-government organisations was being collected to build the database and strengthen emergency response capacity, he said.
Bangladesh faces multiple natural hazards, including floods, cyclones, tidal surges, river erosion, drought, waterlogging and landslides.
Flooding is among the country’s most frequent disasters, particularly during the monsoon, when heavy rainfall and rising river levels can inundate extensive areas.
The scale of the threat was highlighted by severe monsoon floods and landslides in July 2026. Around 1.28 million people were affected across seven districts, while 59 deaths had been reported as of July 22, according to the United Nations.
Some 74,479 houses were damaged or destroyed, 27,007 hectares of cropland were affected and more than 266,000 livestock were impacted.
The UN estimated that around 436,000 people affected by the July disaster required humanitarian assistance. Combined losses in the livestock and fisheries sectors alone were estimated at US$17.3 million.
The emergency also underscored the importance of preparations before hazards intensify. A UN update in July said 1,700 shelters had been activated during the initial emergency in Chattogram Division, with 17,000 people temporarily displaced.
Coastal districts are especially exposed to cyclones and tidal surges, which can damage homes, agricultural land, embankments and fisheries.
Riverbank erosion regularly forces families to relocate and destroys farmland and settlements. Drought and water shortages can also undermine agricultural production in northern and north-western regions during periods of insufficient rainfall.
In hilly areas, particularly the Chattogram Hill Tracts and parts of Chattogram and Sylhet, heavy rainfall can trigger landslides and sudden slope failures.
Climate change is adding to these pressures through rising sea levels, shifting rainfall patterns and increasing the intensity of some extreme weather events.
Despite the government’s preparedness initiatives, natural disasters continue to carry substantial economic and social costs.
Improving local preparedness, strengthening drainage and flood management, protecting rivers and coastal areas and ensuring the rapid delivery of relief and rehabilitation remain central to reducing communities’ vulnerability.
As climate and disaster risks evolve, the effectiveness of these efforts will depend on coordination among government agencies, local authorities, volunteers and communities, alongside investment in infrastructure and technology.
