Draft National Disaster Management Policy-Bangladesh - nirapad

Table of Contents1. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 32. Bangladesh Mission, Vision and Objectives............................................................ 43. Purpose and objectives of the Policy ...................................................................... 44. Strategic Goals of the Policy.................................................................................... 55. Disaster Development Linkages.............................................................................. 56. Principles for Disaster Management........................................................................ 67. Disaster Management Systems in Bangladesh ...................................................... 78. Disaster Management Regulative Framework:a. Disaster Management Act............................................................................ 8b. National Disaster Management Policy.......................................................... 8c. Disaster Management Plans......................................................................... 8d. Standing Orders on Disaster......................................................................... 8e. Guidelines for Government at all Levels (Best Practice Models).................. 99. Priorities and activities under different strategic goal.............................................. 1010. Policy Direction ....................................................................................................... 1411. Financial Arrangements.......................................................................................... 1412. Implementation of national Policy............................................................................ 1413. Government Authorization ....................................................................................... 142

1. IntroductionBangladesh is a low-lying deltaic country situated in between 20 0 34' and 26 0 38' latitude andbetween 88 0 01' and 92 0 41 east longitude and formed by the Ganges, the Brahmaputra andthe Meghna rivers. The geographical location, land characteristics, multiplicity of rivers andthe monsoon climate render Bangladesh highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as floods,cyclones, droughts, tidal surges, tornadoes, cold waves, earthquakes, river erosion, fire,drainage congestion/ water logging, infrastructure collapse, the high arsenic contents ofground water, water and soil salinity, epidemic, and various forms of pollution.Significant country features are:• A vast network of rivers and channels• An enormous discharge of water heavily laden with sediments• A large number of islands in between the channels• A shallow northern Bay of Bengal and funnelling to the coastal area of Bangladeshand• Strong tidal and wind actionFloods are annual phenomena with the most severe occurring during the months of July andAugust. Regular river floods affect 20% of the country increasing up to 68% in extremeyears. The floods of 1988, 1998, 2004 and 2007 were particularly catastrophic, resulting inlarge-scale destruction and loss of lives. The country is one of the worst sufferers of allTropical cyclones from the Bay of Bengal accompanied by storm surges in the world. Onaverage 1.3 cyclones per annum hits Bangladesh coast. The worst affecting cyclones werethe 1970 and 1991 causing death of about 438,882 people (BMD, 2007). Annually, thecountry losses about 8,700 hectres of land due to river erosion displacing around 180-200thousands of people. Bangladesh remains in the list of one of the seismically active regionsof the world although there were no large scale earthquakes experienced in the last hundredyearsClimate change adds a new dimension to community risks and vulnerabilities. Although themagnitude of these changes may appear to be small, they could substantially increase thefrequency and intensity of existing climatic events (floods, droughts, cyclones etc).Current indications are that not only will floods and cyclones become more severe, they willalso start to occur outside of their “established seasons”. Events, such as drought, may nothave previously occurred in some areas and may now be experienced.The damages by and impacts of flood is huge• 1987 floods loss - US$ 1,000 million• 1988 floods loss - US$ 1,200 million, 1,517 killed, livestock 350 thousand• 1998 floods loss - US$ 2,800 million, 500 killed, embankment damage 2,500 kmaffected people 35 million• 2007 floods loss – US$ 1.16 billion, 639 killed, livestock 2590, embankment fullydamaged 261 km, partially damaged 1814 km.1970 Cyclone – 300,000 dead1991 Cyclone – 138,868 dead1997 Cyclone – 550 dead2007 Cyclone – 3363, missing 871, people affected 8,545,470. Houses Damaged: 1449157,Crops Damaged: 2,077,228 acre, Trees Destroyed: 4,065,3163

2. Bangladesh Disaster Management Mission, Vision and ObjectivesThe Disaster Management Vision of the Government of Bangladesh is to reduce the risk ofpeople, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, from the effects of natural, environmentaland human induced hazards, to a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level, and tohave in place an efficient emergency response system capable of handling large scaledisasters.The Mission is to bring a paradigm shift in disaster management from conventionalresponse and relief practice to a more comprehensive risk reduction cultureThe Overall Objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Bangladesh disastermanagement system to reduce unacceptable risk and improve response and recoverymanagement at all levels3. Purpose and objectives of the PolicyThe National Disaster Management Policy defines the national policy on disaster riskreduction and emergency response management, and describes the strategic policyframework, and national principles of disaster management in Bangladesh. The overallnational objectives in this regard are- to reduce the underlying risks byo integrating disaster risk reduction approaches and climate change adaptationin all ongoing and future development plans, programmes and policieso Enhancing professional skills and knowledge of key personnel on riskreduction, preparedness, warning and forecasting system, climate changerisk reduction and post-disaster activitieso Strengthening mechanisms to build capacities for the Community andInstitutions at all levelso Community based Programming for risk reductiono Promote and facilitate the incorporation of longer term disaster risk reductiondue to climate change into disaster managemento Promote livelihood strategies and options for poor that incorporates disastermanagement and risk reduction practiceso Strengthen capacities for risk assessment for flood, cyclone, drought, riverbank erosion, pest attacks, earthquake, epidemics , including assessment ofclimate change risk- to establish and strengthen the systems and procedures for effective responsemanagement throughooooooCreating a legal and institutional framework for effective responsemanagementStrengthening national capacity for response management with emphasis onpreparedness and support to disaster management committees at district,upazila and union levelsImproving the early warning and community alerting systemStrengthening search and rescue capabilities of relevant agenciesIntroducing an effective response management coordination mechanismincluding a relief management logistic system to handle different levels ofemergency responseEstablishing an electronic based information management system4

4. Strategic Goals of the PolicyThe strategic goals of the policy are drawn from the SAARC Disaster ManagementFrameworkGOAL 1: PROFESSIONALISING THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMGOAL 2: MAINSTREAMING RISK REDUCTIONGOAL3: STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMSGOAL 4: EMPOWERING AT RISK COMMUNITIESGOAL 5: EXPANDING RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMMINGGOAL 6: STRENGTHENING EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMSGOAL 7: DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING NETWORKS5. Disaster Development LinkagesAlthough Bangladesh made commendable success in social development indicators namelymaternal and child health, water and sanitation and education, the rate of poverty reductionis only 0.5-1% per annum. Natural hazard impacts that result in a disaster situation are theprimary causes and results of the slow rate of poverty reduction. Between 1991 and 2007,95 major disasters were recorded in Bangladesh, resulting in nearly 200,000 deaths andcausing an estimated US $ 5.9 billion in damages. The highest losses were felt in theagriculture and infrastructure sectors which are the two major contributors to economicgrowth and GDP. According to the World Bank interim report the most recent floods had amajor bearing on the country Balance of Payments and will result in large amounts of futuredevelopment funds being channeled into reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.About 75% of all disasters are originated by weather-climate extremes and because ofglobal warming and climate change Bangladesh has already experienced some significantimpacts especially in terms of coastal inundation and erosion, saline intrusion, deforestation,loss of bio-diversity and agriculture, and large scale migration, It is estimated that about830,000 million hectares of arable land is affected by varying degrees of soil salinity. Duringthe period 1973–1987 about 2.18 million tons of rice was damaged due to drought and 2.38million tons due to flood. Drought affects annually about 2.32 million hectares and 1.2 millionhectares of cropped land during the Kharif (summer) (November to June) and Rabi (winter)(July to October) seasons respectively, while soil salinity, water logging and acidificationaffect 3.05 million hectares, 0.7 million hectares and 0.6 million hectare of crop land,respectively in the country.In addition to crop losses, Bangladesh is experiencing other adverse impacts of globalwarming and climate change with summers becoming hotter, monsoon becoming irregular,untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over short period causing water logging and landslides, verylittle rainfall in dry period, increased river flow and inundation during monsoon, increasedfrequency, intensity and recurrence of floods, crop damage due to flash floods and monsoonfloods, crop failure due to drought, prolonged cold spell, salinity intrusion along the coastleading to scarcity of potable water and redundancy of prevailing crop practices, coastalerosion, riverbank erosion, deaths due to extreme heat and extreme cold, increasingmortality, morbidity, prevalence and outbreak of dengue, malaria, cholera and diarrhea. All ofthese impacts either independently or collectively are adding significant stress to ourphysical and environmental resources, our human ability, and economic activities.The OECD and the World Bank estimate that 40% of overseas development assistance toBangladesh may be climate sensitive or at risk owing to the impact of natural hazards suchas floods. Additionally, funding for humanitarian response to disasters (majority of which areclimate related), which now cost the government and development partners millions ofdollars per year, may result in the reallocation of funding from on-going developmentactivities. This can set back the development process for decades. PRSP made a reference5

to make the changing risk profiles and stronger mitigation demands as an integral part ofBangladesh poverty reduction strategy. The challenges here as mentioned in PRSP is toinclude profiling of risks, both old and new, careful balancing of needs and expectations,streamlining implementation and exploring net-and ladder options in programme design.6. Principles for Disaster ManagementDisaster management is the responsibility of all sectors, all organisations and all agenciesthat may be potentially affected by a disaster. The key principles consistent withinternationally accepted best practices that will guide the development and implementationof the DM policy in Bangladesh are designed to provide guidance during all phases ofdisaster management and are as follows:a) Bangladesh recognizes that disasters can either be human induced, natural or evenarising out of technological causes. The DM policy is to provide guidance, plan andprepare for all types of hazards and disasters.b) Disaster risk reduction should be an integral element of every national and sectoralpolicies at all levels to sub-serve the overall goal relating to economic and socialdevelopment. Hence, policies on sustainable development should seek to reducepossible losses from disasters, as a matter of course.c) Risk is dynamic and always changing. Hence both scientific and community analysis isessential for defining and redefining risks. Risk analysis must be comprehensive andfollow all hazards, all sector and all risk approach. Need to consider both existing andfuture risks including climate change impacts analysis.d) Effective response must be designed utilizing risk information and revised throughlessons learnede) Bangladesh DM Policy will be an ongoing and continuous activity to be reviewed andrevised within a certain interval.f) Disaster management activities in Bangladesh will be designed around a DM Modelcomprising of 2 elements namely Risk Reduction and Emergency ResponseManagement. The formar again divided into two elements:Defining and redefining therisk environment and Managing the risk environment.g) Disaster Management in Bangladesh will be guided by national and internationaldrivers such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, Hyogo Framework for Action,SAARC Framework for Comprehensive Disaster Management, Millenium DevelopmentGoals, UNFCCC and so on.h) Mainstreaming risk reduction efforts within government, NGOs and private sector isviewed as being the key to achieving sustainable all hazards risk reductioninterventions across the whole country.i) Disaster Management in Bangladesh will be enriched through applied research andknowledge management. Hence efforts will be made to strengthen research capabilityand institutionalize knowledge management across academia.j) Women, children, elderly, the disable and other socially marginalized groups will beprimary beneficiaries of all disaster management efforts.6

7. Disaster management system in Bangladesh - The Government of Bangladeshthrough the Standing Orders on Disaster issued in January 1997 created a well-defineddisaster management institutional mechanism. The Ministry of Food and DisasterManagement (MoFDM) of the Government of Bangladesh is overall responsible forcoordinating national disaster management efforts across all agencies. Under SoD a seriesof inter-related committees, at both national and sub-national levels have been created toensure effective planning and coordination of disaster risk reduction and emergencyresponse management at all levels.At the national leveli. National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) headed by the Hon'ble PrimeMinister to formulate and review the disaster management policies and issuedirectives to all concerns.ii. Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Co-ordination Committee (IMDMCC)headed by the Hon'ble Minister in charge of the Ministry of Food and DisasterManagement (MoFDM) to implement disaster management policies and decisions ofNDMC / Government.iii. National Disaster Management Advisory Committee (NDMAC) headed by anexperienced person having been nominated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister.iv. Cyclone Preparedness Program Implementation Board (CPPIB) headed by theSecretary, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management to review the preparednessactivities in the face of initial stage of an impending cyclone.v. Disaster Management Training and Public Awareness Building Task Force(DMTATF) headed by the Director General of Disaster Management Bureau (DMB)to co-ordinate the disaster related training and public awareness activities of theGovernment, NGOs and other organizations.vi. Focal Point Operation Coordination Group of Disaster Management (FPOCG)headed by the Director General of DMB to review and co-ordinate the activities ofvarious departments/agencies related to disaster management and also to review theContingency Plan prepared by concerned departments.vii. NGO Coordination Committee on Disaster Management (NGOCC) headed bythe Director General of DMB to review and co-ordinate the activities of concernedNGOs in the country.viii. Committee for Speedy Dissemination of Disaster Related Warning/ Signals(CSDDWS) headed by the Director General of DMB to examine, ensure and find outthe ways and means for the speedy dissemination of warning/ signals among thepeople.At sub-national levelsi. District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) headed by the DeputyCommissioner (DC) to co-ordinate and review the disaster management activities atthe district level.ii. Upazila Disaster Management Committee (UZDMC) headed by the UpazilaNirbahi Officer (UNO) to co-ordinate and review the disaster management activitiesat the Upazila level.iii. Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) headed by the Chairman of theUnion Parishad to co-ordinate, review and implement the disaster managementactivities of the concerned union.7

iv. Pourashava Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) headed by Chairman ofPourashava (municipality) to co-ordinate, review and implement the disastermanagement activities within its area of jurisdiction.v. City Corporation Disaster Management Committee (CCDMC) headed by theMayor of City Corporations to co-ordinate, review and implement the disastermanagement activities within its area of jurisdiction.Besides the above, committees included in the SOD and any other committees formed bythe government from time to time will be part of disaster management institutionalmechanism.8. Disaster management regulative framework - Bangladesh’s regulative framework fordisaster management provides for the relevant legislative, policy and best practiceframework under which the activity of Disaster Risk Reduction and EmergencyManagement in Bangladesh is managed and implemented. The framework includes:8.1. Disaster Management ActThe Bangladesh Disaster Management Act forms the legislative basis for the protection oflife and property and to manage long term risks from the effect of hazards both natural,technological and human induced, and to respond to and recover from a disaster event. Itaimed ata) Helping communities to: (i) mitigate the potential adverse effects of hazard events, (ii)prepare for managing the effects of a disaster event, (iii) effectively respond to andrecover from a disaster or an emergency situation, and (iv) adapt to adverse effectsof climate change.b) Providing for effective disaster management for Bangladesh.c) Establishing an institutional framework for disaster management.d) Establishing risk reduction as a core element of disaster management.8.3. Disaster Management PlansThe Bangladesh National Plan for Disaster Management shall provide the overall guidelinefor the relevant sectors and the disaster management committees at all levels to prepareand implement their area of roles specific plans. The plan identifies the key sectoral policyagenda for disaster management. Additionally, there will be a few hazard specificmanagement plans, such as Flood Management Plan, Cyclone and Storm Surge andTsunami Management Plan, Earthquake Management Plan, Drought Management Plan,River Erosion Management Plan, etc. Moreover, there will be a detailed DisasterManagement Plan for each District, Upazila, Union and Paurashava and City Corporation ofthe country. A District Disaster Management Plan will be the compilation of the Upa-zilaDisaster Management Plans of the district. Similarly a Upa-zila Disaster Management Planwill be the compilation of the union disaster management plans of that Upazila prepared bythe Union DMCs. So DMCs at Union and Paurashava levels will be mainly responsible forconducting the risk assessments and prepare the ground level plans. Once developed thosewill be sent to the DMCs at one level higher – Upazila DMCs, whose role will be to verify andcompile the union plans and identify the resource requirements for the Upazila. Ministry ofFood and Disaster Management (MoFDM) will be overall responsible to provide theguidance for disaster risk reduction and emergency management planning.8.4. Standing Orders on DisasterThe Standing Orders on Disaster provides a detailed institutional framework for disaster riskreduction and emergency management. It outlines detailed roles and responsibilities ofMinistries, divisions, departments, various committees at different levels, and otherorganizations involved in disaster risk reduction and emergency management.8

9. Priorities and activities under different strategic goalPriority Goal-wise activities of key targets and their implementation mechanism is presentedbelowKey targets/priorities Activities Lead Agency Supporting Agency/ dept./dept.1 2 3 4 5Establish a Disaster Management • Enactment of DM ActMoFDM Ministry of Establishment /MinistryRegulative Framework that makesdisaster risk reduction andemergency response management a• Review and revision of SoD,MoFDM’s Allocation of Business,,etc.of Law, Justice and ParliamentaryAffairs/ Cabinet Division/ SectoralMinistriesmandatory requirement for all • Develop, approve and implementMinistries, Divisions, Departments National Plan for Disasterand other bodies at all levels.Management, National DisasterManagement Policy and otherProfessionalizing the Disaster ManagementSystemEstablish and progressivelyimplement a learning anddevelopment strategy to facilitate theprofessional development of MoFDMand key personnel from government,NGOs and the private sector.Plans• Establish a national DM trainingpolicy for professionaldevelopment• Make mandatory disastermanagement education in allpublic training programmes• Introduce disaster managementeducation in universitiesMoFDMMinistry of Establishment (MoEstt)Training institutes, Ministry ofEducation (MoEd), AcademicInstitutions;Mainstreaming Disaster Risk ReductionStrengtheningInstitutionalMainstreaming disaster risk reductionissues in all national and sectoralpolicies and plansCapacity Building of DMCs at alllevels• Develop Disaster RiskIdentification and MitigationOptions (DRIMO) tool for allsectors and facilitate the approvalprocess of Development andtechnical projects• Include DRIMO as a mandatoryelement for all public and privatesector investment anddevelopment projects andprogrammes• Introduce block allocation in thedevelopment project proposalagainst foreseen and unforeseenrisk reduction activities• Establish a monitoringmechanism to ensure that thedevelopment projects andprogrammes do not create newrisks• Review and revise the relevantsectoral policies by incorporatingdisaster risk reduction issues• Establish Focal Points withrelevant ministries anddepartments• For NGO mainstreaming includeDRR issues in the FD 6 Format• Design and implement anadvocacy programme formainstreaming DRR into NGOprogrammes•• Design and implement a capacitybuilding programme for theDMCs on their roles andresponsibilities related to disasterrisk reduction and emergencyresponse managementMinistry ofFinance andPlanningRelevantMinistriesNGO AffairsBureauMoFDMMoFDM/Planning Commission/Ministry of Environment andForest/ Ministry of WaterResources/Ministry of Agriculture/ NGO AffairsBureau/ / SectoralMinistries/NGOs, Private Sectorbodies Development PartnersMoFDMRelevant MinistriesMoFDMNGOsMinistry of Establishment /Ministryof Law, Justice and ParliamentaryAffairs/ Cabinet Division/ SectoralMinistries/NGOs/ Development Partners/10

Key targets/priorities Activities Lead Agency Supporting Agency/ dept./dept.1 2 3 4 5• Establish a contingency planningframework• Establish a Local level DisasterManagement Contributory Fundwith contribution fromgovernment and the privatesector.•Create a national training capacity tosustain and progressively expand thedisaster management training efforts.• Establish a national disastermanagement training policy andstrategy frameworkMoFDMMoLG&RD,MoED, MoPME,MoRA,BangladeshScouts, MoHARelevantMinistriesMinistry of Finance and Planning;Ministry of EstablishmentMinistry of Finance and Planning;Ministry of EstablishmentMoFDM• MoFDM Relevant ministries/ NGOs/Development PartnersEmpowering At Risk Communities.Expanding Risk Reduction Programming acrosshazards and sectorsEstablish a disaster risk reductionaction planning frameworkStrengthen community and householdlevel capacity to withstand thedisastrous situationsReduce vulnerability of the at riskcommunities through social safetynetsAcross Hazards:Update hazard maps such as flood,cyclone, drought, earthquake andtsunamiEstablish an Integrated Approach todisaster management includingClimate Change and climatevariability impacts• Develop and establish a standardassessment procedure to identifycommunity and household levelrisks• Prepare union, upazila anddistrict level risk reduction plansfor all hazards, all risks and allsectors• Develop strategy to ensureimplementation of the differentlevel risk reduction plansproduced• Design and implement-livelihood support programmesfor at risk communities-community and household levelawareness program oncomprehensive disastermanagement• Establish an effective targetingmechanism• Make provision of blockallocation for safety netprogrammes in the annualrevenue budget• Conduct Hazards RiskAnalysis and produce updatedhazards maps• Determine climate change andclimate variability impacts forBangladesh• Establish system to generate,regularly update anddisseminate micro and macroimpacts of climate change andthe adaptation options toclimate change• Incorporate climate changeand climate variability impactinformation in the disasterRisk reduction programmesdesign• Improve understanding onMoFDMMoFDMMoFDMMoFDMMoEFMoWR, MoF, Other RelevantMinistriesOther Relevant Ministries, NGOsOther Relevant Ministries, NGOsMinistry of Defence/MoWR/Ministry of Science andTechnology/ NGOs / DevelopmentPartnersMoFDMMinistry of Defence/ TechnologicalUniversities/ MoWR/ NGOs/Development Partners11

Key targets/priorities Activities Lead Agency Supporting Agency/ dept./dept.1 2 3 4 5climate change impactsamong the DM stakeholdersDevelop and implement a cyclonerisk reduction programmePreparedness for Earthquake andTsunami risksStrengthen national capability toreduce the risks of• Chemical and technologicalhazards• Biological hazards• Infrastructure collapse• Fire• Road accidents• Launch capsize• Landslide• River Erosion• Review, revise and improve earlywarning generation capacity fortropical cyclone• Review, revise and improve earlywarning dissemination system fortropical cyclone• Expanding operation of theCyclone PreparednessProgramme• Conduct needs assessment forcyclone shelters across thecoastal belt• Standardise cyclone shelterdesign• Develop storm surge inundationmap for the coastal belt• Develop and implement astrategy to protect the coastalareas through construction ofembankment• Develop and implement astrategy to reduce the cycloneimpacts through an appropriateafforestation programme• Develop and implementawareness progranme foreffective cyclone preparedness• Conduct Earthquake andTsunami Risks Assessments formega cities and coastal districts• Introduce contingency planning incity corporation response plan• Update and ensurecompliance of the BangladeshNational Building Code• Develop and implementearthquake risk reduction andpreparedness plan• Strengthen search and rescuecapabilities of first respondinginstitutions• Develop a standard guideline toprepare hazard specific riskreduction plans• Prepare and implement hazardspecific risk reduction plansMoDMoFDMMoFDMMoFDMMoFDMMoWRMoWRMoEFMoFDMMoFDMRelevantministriesMinistry ofIndustriesMoHAMinistry ofCommunication,Ministry ofWaterTransport,MoS&TMoH&FPMoL&FMoEFMoFDMAFDMoD, BDRCSBDRCS, MoFMoWR, MoHPWMoHPW, LGD, MoPME, MoEdMoFDM, MoDRelevant ministriesRelevant ministriesMoIMinistry of Local Government andRural Development; Ministry ofHome Affairs; Armed ForcesDivision; Ministry of Housing andPublic Works; Ministry of Scienceand Technology; Ministry ofPower, Energy and MineralResources; Ministry of Defence;Ministry of Communication;Ministry of Education; AcademicInstitutions;MoFDMMoFDMMinistry of Local Government andRural Development; Ministry ofHome Affairs; Armed ForcesDivision;Ministry of Housing and PublicWorks; Ministry of Defence;Ministry of Communication;Academic Institutions;Ministry of Land,Ministry of Local Government,Rural Development andCooperative,Ministry of Science andTechnology,Ministry of Agriculture,Academic and ResearchOrganizations12

Key targets/priorities Activities Lead Agency Supporting Agency/ dept./dept.1 2 3 4 5Across Sectors:• Develop guidelines andtemplates for inclusion of DRRReview relevant national policies, in sectoral policies and plans MoFDM Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry ofdevelop and establish policy andplanning frameworks to incorporateall hazard risk reduction perspectivesinto sectoral policies and• Adopt community riskassessment procedure to identifyhazards related risks andvulnerabilities to the sectorRelevantMinistriesIndustry,Ministry of Housing and PublicWorks; Ministry of Science andTechnology; Ministry of Power,development plans, such as: • Introduce DRIMO in allEnergy and Mineral Resources;• Agriculture, livestock and fishery development projectsMinistry of Defence; Armed Forces• industry• Increase allocation for adaptationDivision; Ministry of• education (primary, secondary research to identify technologiesCommunication; Ministry ofand Madrasha)suitable to cope with future risksEducation; Academic Institutions;• rural and urban housing,including climate change impactsRelevant ministries• construction of roads, bridgesand culverts• water transportation• Health• Water resources• Establish a National TechnicalAdvisory committee to seekguidance and support to measurethe type and extent and areas ofrisks, formulate strategies and• Power, energy and mineralrecommendations to beresourcesundertaken to reduce identified• Environment and forestryrisks in the sectors.• Science and Technology • Take multi-sectoral initiatives to• Tele-communicationprevent human induced risks in• Water Supply and Sanitationthe sector.• Food Security• Ensure government supportincluding provision of block• Land Useallocation in the annualdevelopment plan to deal withemergencies and for the earlyrecovery of the sector.• Keep provision of emergencyfunds in the budget of all relevantdevelopment projects• Establish a monitoringmechanism to ensure that thedevelopment projects andprogrammes do not create newrisksStrengthening Emergency Response SystemsStrengthen and improve an allHazard Early Warning Systems•Establish and operate a NationalDisaster Management InformationCentre• to archive and share disaster riskreduction information• to produce and share policy briefs• to receive and disseminate earlywarning information• to receive and disseminateinformation on emergency needassessments and management• Technical, technological andphysical capacity strengtheningof Bangladesh MetereologicalDepartment (BMD) and FloodForecasting and Warning Centre(FFWC)• Establish and strengthen regionalnetworks for real timedata/information sharing• Connect through internet networkall the district DRROs and highrisk Upazila PIOs• Design and share need basedinformation products through theestablished networkMoFDM/Ministry ofDefence/MoWRMoFDMArmed Forces Division; Ministry ofPost and Telecommunication;MoHA;MoFA;SMRC;NGOsDevelopment PartnersMinistry of Defence; Armed ForcesDivision;MoWR;NGOs;Development Partners13

Key targets/priorities Activities Lead Agency Supporting Agency/ dept./dept.1 2 3 4 5Establish an effective CommunityAlerting System• Strengthen the capacity ofCyclone PreparednessProgramme and DMCs at District,Upazila and Union levelsMoFDM MoWR/ MoD/ NGOs/ BDRCSEstablish and improve Search andRescue Mechanism•• Organize regular drills• Prepare a potential search andrescue scenario• Strengthen Search and Rescuecapability of first respondinginstitutions by providing trainingand equipments support• Establish an all hazardvolunteer groups for Search andRescue operations• Establish an effective commandand control systemMoHA/ ArmedForces Division/LocalGovernmentBodies/MoHAMoFDMBDRCSBSMoHALGDMoFDMMoH&PW/MoLG&RD/ MoD/MoPE&MR/ / NGOsDevelop and establish emergencyresponse plans• Develop and establish emergencyresponse plan for all hazards atall levels• Establish an inter-agencycoordination mechanism foremergency response• Develop and implement astandard relief managementprocedure• Develop and regularly updatedistrict and upazila level responseplans by DMCsMoFDMRelevant ministries, Armed ForcesDivision; NGOs, developmentpartners, CBOs and the PrivatesectorDevelop and establish post disasterrecovery and reconstructionmechanism• Establish a standard sectorspecific damage and lossassessment methodology• Incorporate disaster risk reductionmeasures into post-disasterrecovery and rehabilitationprocessesMoFDMRelevantMinistriesRelevant Sectoral Ministries anddepartments; Armed ForcesDivision10. Policy DirectionThe overall responsibility for policy direction and co-ordination shall rest with the Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Coordination Committee as set out in the Standing Orderson Disasters.11. Financial ArrangementsFor response and recovery Government will constitute a fund called the “National DisasterResponse and Recovery Fund” from its own resources and donations from home andabroad. The allocation and utilization of the fund shall be governed as per rules andguidelines laid down by the Government. Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, inconsultation with Ministry of Finance, will take initiative to establish the fund by consolidatingthe existing relief funds.For risk reduction Government will constitute another fund called the “National RiskReduction Fund” for projects which are designed for the purpose of prevention, mitigationand preparedness. The allocation and utilization of the fund shall be governed as per rules14