Architecture Asia - ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2018

A large part of Bangladesh is a delta in formation with a large
number of major rivers and their tributaries. These rivers, before
reaching the Bay of Bengal, frequently change their course, thus
eroding the riverbanks. According to statistics nearly seven million
people have been displaced due to river erosions during the last
two decades, and millions of people are directly or indirectly affected
every year.
The project region is located in the north-western Bangladesh,
a highly disaster-prone district, with ongoing riverbank erosion
that lead to permanent loss of agricultural lands and as well as
homesteads. This project was formally launched in April 2004 by
Practical Action Bangladesh to help the communities, which are
affected by flood and river erosion in this area. Two major components
of the project were to develop cluster villages and some
multipurpose shelters for the vulnerable communities in the region.
The project also focused on food security and alternative employment
generation for the erosion affected and displaced resource
poor communities through different innovative strategies based on
disaster risk management and vulnerability reduction, adaptation
to climate change issues and building awareness about social,
civil and political rights.
ARCHITECTURE ASIA ISSUE 3 2018
71