Disaster Management Concepts,

Institutions, and Regulatory

Framework in Bangladesh

Mahmudur Rahman
Lecturer
Department of Public Health and Informatics
Jahangirnagar University,
Savar, Dhaka-1342.
E-mail: mahmudur.rahman@juniv.edu
 Disaster: Concept, Types and Management
impact and Measures
What is a Disaster?
Any event, typically occurring, that causes damage, ecological disruption,
loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services and which
exceeds the capacity of the affected community on a scale sufficient to
require outside assistance (Landesman, 2001)
A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of the society causing
widespread human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability
of affected society to cope using its own resources (UNDP)
Process (Natural & Hazard (Natural & Disaster
artificial) artificial)

Disaster is a severe situation usually associated with severe

damage to infrastructure and utilities, death, injuries and
homelessness. It may be wide spread or contained within a
particular sector (i.e. social, economic or environmental) or sub
sector (e.g. agriculture, tourism)

A disaster can best be described as a possible outcome of a

hazard

striking a vulnerable community element (s) and exceeds the

ability of those affected to anticipate, resist, manage or
recover, using their own resources
 Key Elements of Disasters

Causes large-scale disruption

Produces ecological destruction

Impacts vulnerable communities

Exceeds community’s coping capacity

Requires outside assistance

 Classification of Disasters

Two types of disaster

Natural and
Human made
Short – Term Natural
Geological Origin
Earthquake, landslide, volcano, Tsunami
Hydro-Meteorological Origin
Extreme weather, high winds, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes,
typhoons
Short-term Human Made
Accidents (e.g. technical disasters), Chemical accidents, Nuclear
accidents
 Classification of Disasters

Long-term Natural
Epidemic disasters, Insect infestations, Drought
Long-term human made
Famine
Food shortage
Interstate conflict
Domestic violence
 Classification of Disasters

Human-generated disasters
Non-intentional
Industrial/technological
Transportation
Environmental
Material shortages
Mass violence (intentional)
Wars and civil strife
Natural Disaster in Bangladesh:1904-2007

Disaster No. of Killed Injured Homeless Affected Total

Events affected
Drought 6 19,000.018 0 0 25,002,000 25,002,000

Earthquake 6 34 625 15,000 3,500 19,125

Epidemic 28 4,03,102 0 0 27,57,519 27,57,519

Extreme 28 2,171 2,200 0 1,85,000 1,87,200

Temp.
Flood 69 50,103 102,220 32,703,724 290,376,548 323,182,492

Wind Strom 150 614,293 8,74,631 9,972,843 53,076,046 63,923,520

Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Database January, 2007

Major natural disaster in Bangladesh 1993 t0 2013( source
: CRED)
Technological Disaster in Bangladesh: 1979-2007

Events No. of Killed Injured Homeless Affected Total

events affected

Industrial 10 404 557 0 700 1,257

accident

Misc. 11 283 413 30,500 20,000 50,913

accident

Transport 137 11,866 3,542 0 270 3,812

accident

Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Database January, 2007

Possible Consequence of Disasters

Morbidity and Mortality •Injury

•Disease
•Death

Material Losses •Damage

•Destruction
•Economic loss

Social Disruption •Disruption of activities

•Population displacement
•Impact on health services

Psychosocial Losses •Disasters response

•Behavior Change
 Impact Layers in a Disasters

Direct victims

Family/Social network

First respondents, their families and social network

Vulnerable populations and impacted businesses

Ordinary people and their communities

 Factors that Determine the Stressfulness of a
Disaster

Characteristics of the disaster

Suddenness
Intensity
Avoid ability
Characteristics of the individuals
Actual losses (and threat of loss
Previous experience with similar events
Effectiveness of onc’s coping mechanisms
Characteristics of the community or society
Amount of damage done
Community’s experience with such an event
Available of resources to rebuild
 Disaster Management

In general terms disaster management means to perform the whole range or

pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster activities such as planning,
organizing, coordinating, controlling, implementing and evaluating with a
view to mitigating the severity and extent of disasters is known as disaster
management. So disaster management is the of policy and administrative
decisions and operational activities which pertain to the various stages of a
disaster at all levels.
 Phases of Disaster Management

Pre-disaster preparedness phase

During the disaster operation phase

Post-disaster the rehabilitation phase

 Objectives of Disaster Management

To prevent avoidable loss of live

To minimize human sufferings
To minimize property damage and economic loss
To face and manage quickly and courageously
To manage and rescue from creation of panic
To alert and inform in advance the public and authorities of prevailing
risks to their collective wellbeing and to courage the initiatives necessary
to mitigate them
 Essential Capacities for Disaster
Management

Socio economic information data

Technological know-how
Indigenous knowledge
Management related ideas
Organizational/Interpersonal Relationship
 Measures of Disaster Management

Organizational capability
Capacity building
Resource mobilization
Sustainable awareness building
Commitment and confidence building
Knowledge and information networking linkage
Attitudinal changes through training
Orientation about crisis management activities
Logistic support
Disaster Management Drivers

International National

•MDGs •National Flood 2004

•UNFCC Workshop
•WCDR Recommendation
•SAARC •PRSP
Framework •SOD
•NPDM
 GoB Vision

The Disaster Management Vision of the Government of Bangladesh

Is to reduce the risk of people, especially the poor and the disadvantaged,
from the effects of natural, environmental and human induced hazards,

To a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level, and

To have in place an efficient emergency response system capable of

handling large scale disasters.
 MoFDM Mission

To achieve a paradigm shift in disaster management from

Conventional response and relief to

A more comprehensive risk reduction culture and

To promote food security as an important factor

In ensuring resilience of the communities to hazards

 MoFDM Objectives

To strengthen the capacity of the Bangladesh Disaster management

System
To reduce unacceptable risk and improve response and recovery
management at all levels and
To effectively integrate and manage Bangladesh flood security system
 Major institutions for Disaster Management

Technical Monitoring Capacity Building Preparedness & Response

1. Bangladesh Met. Department 1. Disaster management 1. Ministry of Food and Disaster
(BMD) management (MoFDM)
Bureau (DMB)
2. Disaster Management 2. Armed Forces Division (AFD)
2. Comprehensive Disaster 3. Disaster management Bureau
Bureau (DMB)
Management Programme (DMB)
3. Bangladesh Water
Development Board (BWDB), (CDMP) 4. Directorate of Relief and
Rehabilitation (DRR)
Flood Forecasting and 3. Schools/Collages
Warning Centre (FFWC), 5. Fire Service and Civil Defense
/Universities Department
Institute of Water Modeling
(IWM) 1. Water Resource Planning 6. Bangladesh Anser and Village
Organizations Defense Force
4. SPARRSO
7. Bangladesh Red Crescent
5. GSB 2. BUET (Sp. Institutes) Society (BDRCS)
6. CEGIES 3. Public training/academic 8. Cyclone Preparedness
7. Soil Resource Development institutes (e.g. BARD, Programme (CPP)
Institute (SRDI) RDA, IUB, BPATC, 9. Specialized NGOs
8. BUET and other Universities IUBAT, BRAC, JU, DU, 10. Youth, Women and Religious
RU, KU, PSTU, BCSAA, Leaders.
NCTB, NAEM etc.)
 Disaster Management Institutions in
Bangladesh

National Disaster
Management Council

Inter Ministerial
Disaster Management National Disaster
Coordination Management Advisory
Committee (IMDMCC)
Council (NDMAC)

Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief

Cyclone Preparedness
Department of Disaster Management Programme
Implementation Board

District Disaster
Management Committee
Zone / Upazila
City Corporation
Municipal Disaster Disaster Management
Management Committee Committee
Union

Upazila Disaster Management Committee

Village
Union Disaster Management Committee
 Disaster Management Institutional
Framework in Bangladesh
NDMC
IMDMCC
NDMAC
Ministry of Food and Disaster Management
DG food
DRR
DMB
CPPIB
District Disaster management Committee
Municipal Disaster Management Committee
City Corporation Disaster Management Committee
Upazila Disaster management Committee
Union Disaster Management Committee
 Legal Framework for Disaster Management

▪ Disaster Management Act

2012
▪ Disaster Management Policy
▪ Standing Orders on Disaster
▪ National Plan for Disaster
Management
▪ Earthquake Contingency
Planning
 National Committees Under SOD

The standing order create the opportunity to establish disaster

management committee at every level. However these committees are
activated during the disaster

The standing orders for disaster management provide ample scope for the
Government, NGOs and private sectors to think locally and planned need
based program involving the community.
 National Committees Under SOD

1. National Disaster Management Council (NDMC)

2. Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Co-ordination Committee
(IMDMCC)
3. National Disaster Management Advisory Committee (NDMAC)
4. Cyclone Preparedness Program Implementation Board (CPPIB)
5. Disaster Management Training and Public Awareness Building Task
Force (DMTATF)
6. Focal Point Operation Coordination Group of Disaster Management
(FPOCG)
7. NGO Coordination Committee on Disaster Management (NGOCC)
8. Committee for Speedy Dissemination of Disaster Related
Warning/Signals (CSDDWS)
 Local Level Committees Under SOD

1. Disaster management Committee (DDMC)-Chair, the Deputy Commissioner

(DC) to co-ordinate and review the disaster management activities at District
level.
2. Upazila Disaster Management Committee (UzDMC) Chair, Upazila Nirbahi
Officer (UNO) to co-ordinate and review the DM activities at the Upazila
level.
3. Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) headed by the Chairman of
the Union Parishad to co-ordinate, review & implement the DM activities on
the concerned Union.
4. Pourashava Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) headed by Mayor of
Pourashava (municipality) to co-ordinate, review and implement the DM
activities within its area of jurisdiction.
5. City Corporation disaster management Committee (CCDMC) headed by the
Mayor of City Corporations to co-ordinate, review and implement the DM
activities within its area of jurisdiction.
 Disaster Management Regulatory
Framework

Disaster Management Act

DM policy
National Plan for DM
Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD)
Sectoral Policies (DRR incorporated)
Sectoral Plans (DRR incorporated)
Local Plans/Hazard Plans
Guideline/Templates
Programming for Implementation
Disaster Management Regulative Framework

Disaster
Management Act

DM Policy National Plan for DM SOD

Sectoral Policies Sectoral Plans Local Plans Guideline

(DRR Incorporated) (DRR Incorporated) Hazard Plans Templates

Programming for Implementation

Overall organization management: Bangladesh

•Responsibilities should reflect expertise

Rules & Responsibilities should clear
•R&R should appropriate

Prime
Minister
Office District, Upazilla and
Union/ Pourashava/ City
Corporation DMC
Ministry of
Food and
Disaster
Management

FIELD
 Information management system

Coordinate means of gathering and disseminating vulnerability

assessment and Forecasting, early warning within and between
agencies and organizations and with the public

Union Disaster Upazila Disaster

District
Management Management Committee Disaster
Committee (UzDMC) Management
(UDMC) Committee
(DDMC)

EOC,
PM office
monitoring
MoFDM
cell`
DMIC (Disaster
Management Information
Centre
CDMP/DMB
www.cdmp.org.bd
DMIC at District
Level

Short-term
District
 Resource Mobilization System: Bangladesh

Department of Relief
and Rehabilitation
(DRR)

MoFDM

UNO Offices
and Upazila
DMC

DC Offices
and DDMC

FIELD (Union)
DMC
 Warning Information management system

Union Disaster Upazila Disaster Management

Management Committee Committee District Disaster
Management Committee
(DRRO)

PM office
monitoring
cell`
EOC

Bangladesh metrological
Department DMIC
Flood forecast early warning (Disaster
system (BWDB)
Disaster Management Management
Institute of water modeling Information Centre at
(BWDB) Bureau (DMB)
CDMP/DMB (MoFDM)
SPARRSO and CEGIS
 Conclusion

Comprehensive disaster management helps in building disaster resilient

communities

It is a dynamic process

Its address all hazards, all sectors and all communities

Linked to development
THANKS TO ALL