Cover and section photo credits Cover Photo: “Untitled” by Nurus Salam is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (Shangu River, Bangladesh). https://www.flickr.com/photos/nurus_salam_aupi/5636388590 Country Overview Section Photo: “village boy rowing a boat” by Nasir Khan is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasir-khan/7905217802 Disaster Overview Section Photo: Bangladesh firefighters train on collaborative search and rescue operations with the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division at the 2013 Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise & Exchange (DREE) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonmildep/11856561605 Organizational Structure for Disaster Management Section Photo: “IMG_1313” Oregon National Guard. State Partnership Program. Photo by CW3 Devin Wickenhagen is licensed under CC BY 2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonmildep/14573679193 Infrastructure Section Photo: “River scene in Bangladesh, 2008 Photo: AusAID” Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is licensed under CC BY 2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/10717349593/ Health Section Photo: “Arsenic safe village-woman at handpump” by REACH: Improving water security for the poor is licensed under CC BY 2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/reachwater/18269723728 Women, Peace, and Security Section Photo: “Taroni’s wife, Baby Shikari” USAID Bangladesh photo by Morgana Wingard. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaid_bangladesh/27833327015/ Conclusion Section Photo: “A fisherman and the crow” by Adnan Islam is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Dhaka, Bangladesh. https://www.flickr.com/photos/adnanbangladesh/543688968 Appendices Section Photo: “Water Works Road” in Dhaka, Bangladesh by David Stanley is licensed under CC BY 2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidstanleytravel/27707923056 2 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Table of Contents Welcome - Note from the Director ...........................................................................................................9 About the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance ............10 Disaster Management Reference Handbook Series Overview ...................................................11 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................12 Country Overview ..........................................................................................................14 Culture .......................................................................................................................................................14 Demographics .........................................................................................................................................15 Ethnic Makeup .................................................................................................................................16 Key Population Centers ................................................................................................................16 Language ...........................................................................................................................................17 Religion ..............................................................................................................................................18 Vulnerable Groups .........................................................................................................................18 Economics ................................................................................................................................................20 Government .............................................................................................................................................20 Environment ............................................................................................................................................23 Geography ........................................................................................................................................23 Borders ...............................................................................................................................................23 Climate ...............................................................................................................................................24 Disaster Overview .........................................................................................................26 Hazards ......................................................................................................................................................26 Recent History of Natural Disasters .................................................................................................27 Climate Change ......................................................................................................................................31 Infectious Disease .................................................................................................................................31 Country Risks ...........................................................................................................................................32 Bangladesh Disaster Management Reference Handbook | June 2017 3 Organizational Structure for Disaster Management ..................................................34 Lead Government Agencies in Disaster Response ....................................................................34 Military .......................................................................................................................................................45 Disaster Management Organizations in Bangladesh ...............................................................46 Participation in International Organizations ................................................................................46 International Agencies in Bangladesh ...........................................................................................49 U.S. Government Agencies in Bangladesh....................................................................................54 Foreign Disaster Relief and Emergency Response .....................................................................54 Laws, Policies, and Plans on Disaster Management ..................................................................55 Education and Training ........................................................................................................................58 Volunteers .........................................................................................................................................59 Disaster Management Communications.......................................................................................60 Early Warning Systems ..................................................................................................................60 Responsible Agencies for Flood and Storm Warning ........................................................60 Military Role in Disaster Relief ...........................................................................................................62 Foreign Assistance and International Partners ...........................................................................68 Coordination Mechanisms between Government and Development Partners .............69 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................72 Airports ......................................................................................................................................................72 Seaports ....................................................................................................................................................72 Land Routes .............................................................................................................................................73 Roads ...................................................................................................................................................73 Railways ..............................................................................................................................................74 Waterways .........................................................................................................................................75 Schools ......................................................................................................................................................76 Communications ....................................................................................................................................77 Utilities .......................................................................................................................................................77 Power ..................................................................................................................................................77 Water and Sanitation .....................................................................................................................77 4 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Health .............................................................................................................................80