A lightning-safe shelter in Kurigram is protecting char farmers from deadly storms while paired community initiatives tackle erosion, climate migration and resilient livelihoods in northern Bangladesh amid worsening climate change.
A newly built lightning-protected farmer shelter in northern Bangladesh is offering critical protection to climate-vulnerable farmers who face growing risks from extreme weather while working in open riverine farmlands.
The shelter, established in Char Balarampur of Berubari Union, Nageshwari Upazila, Kurigram district, has been constructed with support from Helvetas Bangladesh and implemented by local organisation Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO). It is equipped with a lightning arrestor to reduce the risk of fatalities during sudden storms.
Farming in Bangladesh’s chars, low-lying riverine sandbars formed by sedimentation, has become increasingly dangerous. Farmers often work for hours under open skies with no access to weather forecasts or nearby safe structures. In Berubari Union alone, three people have died and at least ten others have been injured by lightning over the past five years.
Climate experts have repeatedly warned that lightning incidents are increasing due to climate change, making agricultural work more hazardous, particularly in exposed northern districts like Kurigram.
During a recent visit, farmers from Balarampur, Fakirtari, Char Tupamari and Gachhpra were resting and socialising under the shelter during their midday break. For them, the structure now serves as both a safety measure and a place of respite.
“This shelter has changed everything for us,” said Samsher Ali, 48, a farmer from Char Tupamari. “Before, we had nowhere to run when storms hit. Now I can work in the fields and know I have a safe place to go.”
Hasanur Rahman Pradhan, who donated the land for the shelter, said, “I built this not for me but for the farmers. When lightning strikes, every second counts. If we had shelters like this across all the large chars, many lives could be saved.”
Adapting Beyond Safety, Livelihoods Under Threat
The challenges in Berubari Union extend beyond lightning. River erosion caused by the Dudhkumar River displaces hundreds of families every year, leaving many without land or stable livelihoods.
To address this, ESDO launched a climate-resilient agriculture initiative involving 30 erosion-affected families in Gachhpra village. Landless women are cultivating vegetables along both sides of a government rural road using mulching techniques. Bamboo trellises have been erected over the road to grow crops such as bottle gourd, pumpkin, beans and bitter gourd.
“We lost our homes and land to the river. Now we are farming again,” said Laiju Begum, 35, leader of the women’s group. “We work together, share the harvest and even sell some vegetables. It gives us hope.”
Union Parishad panel chairman Md Ashraful Islam said, “Both lightning and river erosion are increasing. Allowing landless families to use roadside land has helped them rebuild their lives.”
Community-Led Climate Response
Youth volunteers have established a climate migration centre to support families affected by erosion and extreme weather. The centre compiles lists of vulnerable households and shares information with local authorities and radio stations to help them access assistance.
“We teach families how to prepare, where to go and how to stay safe during floods or storms,” said Kumari Priyanka Rani, secretary of the centre. “Knowledge is as important as shelter.”
Meanwhile, a community-based climate information service, seed bank and organic farming training centre has been set up at WAPDA Bazaar. Farmers receive guidance on seed preservation, organic fertilisers and natural pest control. Local agriculture adviser Al Amin said, “Farmers come here every day. They learn, ask questions and take home solutions they can use immediately.”
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, said, “This is exactly the kind of local action we need. Farmers are facing life-threatening risks every day and shelters like this save lives. When we combine safety with livelihood support, communities can thrive even under the pressures of climate change.”
Need for Scaled-Up Action
Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Md Firoz Hossain described the initiatives as timely but said stronger coordination with government agricultural services could improve long-term sustainability and reach.
Bangladesh has officially recognised lightning as a disaster risk, yet vast char areas remain without protective infrastructure. Local leaders and development practitioners say the Berubari shelter shows how low-cost, targeted adaptation measures can save lives.
As climate change continues to reshape rural livelihoods, initiatives like the lightning-protected farmer shelter and climate-resilient farming offer a practical model for protecting lives and food security in Bangladesh’s most exposed regions.
