Like Shaty Das, Assistant Commissioner/Magistrate (right), and Maria Abdullah Tarin (left), Deputy Manager of Disaster Risk Management Programme (DRMP), BRAC, the workshop saw active engagement from stakeholders.
Bangladesh, a country often struck by disasters, requires robust disaster management systems to protect lives and mitigate economic losses. In response to this, the Government of Bangladesh has established several crucial policies and frameworks, such as the Standing Order on Disaster (SOD) 2019, the National Plan for Disaster Management (2021-2025), and the Disaster Management (Fund Operation) Rules, 2021. These frameworks are designed to ensure a timely and effective disaster response, with a particular emphasis on the activation and mobilization of disaster management funds (DMF) at both national and local levels.
Mr. AKM Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary and BPP Chair, speaking at the consultation as the chief guest
Supporting these efforts, the Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP)—a collaborative initiative led by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), with technical assistance from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and funding from the Gates Foundation—organized a national consultation on January 15, 2025, in Dhaka. The event brought together key government officials, representatives from six district administrations, and 15 BPP partner organizations from academia, the private sector, NGOs, and other government bodies. The consultation aimed to discuss research findings and devise strategies for enhancing the implementation of the National and District Disaster Management (Fund Operation) Rules, 2021. The BPP partnership plays an instrumental role in strengthening disaster preparedness and improving local access to critical disaster funds.
During the workshop, Mr. Asim Chandra Banik, Deputy Secretary of MoDMR, presented key research findings and highlighted the challenges hindering the effective activation of the disaster management fund based on his study of the DM fund. These challenges were further discussed by participants to determine the way forward. These included unclear procedures for refunding unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year, a lack of clear guidelines on fund generation and utilization, and insufficient digitalization and monitoring mechanisms.
Mr. Md. Atiqul Haq, former Director General of the Department of Disaster Management, speaking at the consultation as a special guest.
The consultation recommended several key actions to improve disaster management, including revising the DM Fund rules to allow unutilized funds to carry over to the next fiscal year, integrating DM Fund management training into government institutions to enhance local capacity, and launching pilot projects in selected districts to refine operational processes. It also emphasized strengthening DM Fund Committees, improving communication and awareness among stakeholders, allocating funds specifically for disaster preparedness and monitoring, and involving city corporations and municipalities in fund management to improve urban disaster risk reduction efforts.
By implementing these recommendations, Bangladesh can significantly improve its disaster preparedness, response, and recovery mechanisms, ultimately reducing the devastating impact of disasters on its communities and strengthening the resilience of its people.