State Minister for Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman, MP, said, ‘Contextualised early warning systems and flood action plans are contributing towards turning Bangladesh into role model in disaster management.’

The minister said this while attending an inception of a five year-long Flood Resilience Project as chief guest in Capital today. He also urged for better collaboration between Government and NGO initiatives to enhance the community flood resilience.

Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member, General Economic Division, Senior Secretary, Planning Commission; Md Harun Rashid Mollah, Director Research, Department of Disaster Management were present as special guests.

In his speech, Dr. Shamsul emphasized the importance of Delta Plan 2100 and its focus on flood early warning systems at a regional scale.

Bangladesh is one of the most flood prone countries in the world. Floods have significantly contributed to the 520,000 deaths caused by natural hazards recorded in the past 40 years in Bangladesh. The devastating floods in 1998 and 2004 caused damage costing US$2.8 bn and $2.2 bn, respectively; or about 5 per cent of GDP. 

In regard to the situation in Bangladesh, Concern Worldwide, Mercy Corps, and Practical Action have initiated a 5-year ‘Flood Resilience Project’ in Bangladesh with support from the Zurich Foundation. Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance, in three flood prone districts in Bangladesh: Faridpur, Gaibandha, and Lalmonirhat. The project will work to enhance flood resilience in a number of communities across the char (sandbar) and coastal flood contexts. These will generate new evidence and learning on how community resilience to flooding across different flood hazard contexts can be improved.

Hasin Jahan, Country Director, Practical Action spoke about the evidences generated towards making the community flood-resilient in the flood-prone areas of Sirajgonj district. She explained how contextualized weather information and early warning can build the resilience. Since 2013 early warning system has been a hallmark for the Zurich Flood Resilience. She also announced Practical Action’s new initiative of developing a mobile application-based disaster management system.

The Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance is a multi-sectoral partnership focusing on finding practical ways to help communities in developed and developing countries strengthen their resilience to flood risk. The Alliance will reach 72000 people in Bangladesh to reduce the negative impacts of flooding on their lives and livelihoods. This project is going to be implemented with Assistance from Social Organization and Development (ASOD) and Village Education Resource Center (VERC).

A.K. M. Musha, Country Director, Concern worldwide delivered the welcome speech and Rumana Binte Masud from Mercy Corps gave the concluding remarks.