Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change, wherein natural disasters have become a common and rising reality for its people. The disastrous flash floods sweeping across eastern Bangladesh at present are the latest in a wave of climate-related catastrophes to hit the country in recent years. In the face of the current emergency 鈥� three million people stranded, vast areas inundated 鈥� it is painfully clear just how woefully our response falls short of what is needed.
This is not an isolated disaster but part of an emerging pattern of intensifying climate threats. Bangladesh faces almost all types of climatological and hydrometeorological hazards every year, which include cyclones with storm surges, floods, drought, and sea-level rise. Seventh in global rankings in terms of risk from extreme disasters, forecasts have it that about one in every seven persons in Bangladesh could be displaced by climate change by 2050.
Again, the recent flash floods have brought to light yawning chinks in the armour of our country鈥檚 system for disaster management. Decades of experience with floods, of which 18 major events happened throughout the 20th century, still show an inadequate capability to safeguard our citizens and ensure effective response.
This disaster strikes at a particularly turbulent time for Bangladesh. Recent political unrest has left our institutions fractured and ill-equipped to coordinate an effective response. The breakdown in communication between government agencies, coupled with damaged infrastructure, is severely hampering rescue and relief efforts.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasises the critical importance of institutional coordination and community-based approaches. Yet, Bangladesh鈥檚 current fragmented response reveals how far we are from meeting these international standards.
One of the major inadequacies in our present disaster management system is its failure to make available accurate and timely weather data and cross-border information sharing. Much investment in advanced forecasting technology is needed in order to provide better and more accurate predictions, especially for flash floods that give little warning. The recent controversy over reports that India opened the gates of the Dumbur dam without proper communication to Bangladesh raises the issue of better bilateral protocols. Whereas India has rejected these claims, instead attributing the floods to heavy rainfall in downstream catchment areas, the incident resonates with the urgent need for enhanced transboundary river management and data sharing.
Since neither Bangladesh nor India signed the International Water Law, we must build robust, mutually acceptable solutions pertaining to water exchange and flood management. This particularly includes real-time data sharing in water monitoring systems, a defined protocol on information dissemination relating to the discharge of water from dams and barrages, and a joint flood-monitoring system. Joint flood management is therefore highly required at present times in order to avoid misperceptions and reduce the adverse impacts of floods and to further strengthen our bilateral bond amidst rising climate-linked challenges.
听
Centralised information hub
Recently, social media highlighted the tremendous efforts of students in collecting aid during the flood crisis. However, due to a lack of coordination, reports surfaced on Facebook that many affected areas did not receive the necessary assistance. To address the chaos of uncoordinated relief efforts, we could propose creating a single, comprehensive website for disaster management. This centralised information hub would serve as a vital resource for both authorities and citizens, streamlining our disaster response and enhancing transparency. The platform would provide real-time weather forecasts and flood warnings, ensuring that critical information reaches those at risk promptly. It would also offer up-to-date information on affected populations and areas, allowing for more targeted and efficient relief efforts. By coordinating relief activities across government agencies and NGOs, the website would minimise duplication of efforts and ensure resources are distributed where they鈥檙e needed most. Importantly, it would feature transparent tracking of aid distribution, fostering accountability and public trust in relief operations. Additionally, the platform would offer first-aid training resources for volunteers, empowering community members to play an active role in disaster response.
听
Empowering communities
Additionally, we call for the establishment of a national disaster hotline, a critical component in modernising our disaster response system. This lifeline would serve as an immediate point of contact for those in dire need, offering emergency rescue requests, information on shelters and evacuation routes, medical assistance, and updates on relief distribution. Beyond individual aid, the hotline would function as a centralised information hub, providing real-time updates on the disaster situation, guidance on preparedness measures, and even psychological support for those experiencing trauma.
For concerned citizens eager to contribute, this system would offer structured ways to help, from registering as volunteers and coordinating local donation drives to reporting areas in urgent need of assistance. The hotline could also streamline the donation process, offering secure methods for financial contributions and coordinating in-kind donations based on current needs, all while ensuring donors receive updates on how their contributions are utilised.
To truly serve all Bangladeshis, the hotline must be available 24/7 during the time of any disasters, staffed by trained professionals, accessible in multiple languages, including local dialects, and equipped to assist those with disabilities. By implementing this comprehensive national disaster hotline, we can transform our disaster response from a fragmented, often chaotic effort into a coordinated, efficient, and equitable system. This initiative would not only save lives in the immediate term but also build long-term resilience by fostering community engagement and improving our collective disaster response capabilities.
听
Learning from past failures
The 1998 and 2004 floods should have been lessons learned in long-term recovery processes and reduction of risk. We have come back neck-deep in almost the same crises. Obviously, the statistics are there: since 1980, Bangladesh has experienced more than 200 disasters, with a sharply rising trend over time. Furthermore, the climate projections turn our future into a dark perspective, highlighting that those events will only become more frequent and disastrous.
Against such a new normalcy, there is an urgent need to break loose from the cycle of crisis management reactivity that has become a characteristic of our approach for far too long. That鈥檚 no longer good enough, waiting to respond to disasters as they strike; serious up-front investment in true resilience is now called for. It thus behooves a new imaging of infrastructure, institutional reforms, and reshaping how one lives with鈥攁nd is responding to鈥攖he continuous threat of climate-induced disasters.
听
A call to action
The time for incremental changes has passed. Bangladesh needs a revolutionary change in its disaster management system. This comprehensive reform must begin with strengthening institutional frameworks to ensure better coordination among various agencies and stakeholders. Simultaneously, we must invest heavily in cutting-edge weather forecasting and early warning systems, leveraging the latest technologies to provide more accurate and timely predictions, especially for rapid-onset disasters like flash floods. A centralised disaster information and management platform is crucial to streamline our response efforts, providing real-time data and coordinating relief activities across government bodies and NGOs. Equally important is the empowerment of local communities through extensive training and resources, enabling them to act as first responders and build grassroots resilience.
Just as Charles Dickens wrote in 鈥楢 Tale of Two Cities鈥� 鈥� 鈥業t was the best of times, it was the worst of times鈥� 鈥� Bangladesh finds itself at a critical juncture. We have witnessed the power of our youth, from the 1952 Language Movement to the 1971 Liberation War and recent movements, demonstrating our nation鈥檚 resilience and capacity for change. Yet, we also face unprecedented challenges, from the spread of misinformation during crisis times.
As we get through the current crisis, we must harness this same spirit of resilience and determination that has defined our nation鈥檚 history. While natural disasters cannot be completely avoided, much of their destruction can be averted if bold action is taken. The floods may not be in our hands, but the quantum of human misery certainly is. It鈥檚 time Bangladesh takes gallant steps to secure its future: shifting our approach to managing disasters from being reactive to proactive, fragmented to unified, and short-term relief to long-term resilience.
As we stand at this crossroads, let us draw inspiration from our past triumphs and learn from our challenges. It鈥檚 time to write a new chapter in our nation鈥檚 story 鈥� one of innovation, adaptation and unwavering resilience in the face of climate change. The future of Bangladesh depends on the actions we take today. Let us rise to this challenge with the same determination and spirit that have defined our nation鈥檚 journey thus far.
听
Rahnuma Sultana is an associate expert, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, Switzerland.
