Print: 02 Nov 2025
In a major step to strengthen climate resilience in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, the government is set to rehabilitate 220 cyclone shelters across coastal districts under a Tk48.7 crore project.
The initiative aims to transform aging facilities into climate-resilient, multi-purpose community hubs that will serve as emergency shelters during disasters and safe educational spaces for rural children in normal times.
Scheduled to begin in July 2025 and conclude by June 2028, the project will be led by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, in coordination with the Planning Commission and other rural development bodies.
“Cyclone shelters are not just infrastructure; they are lifelines for millions in coastal areas. By rehabilitating them with modern, climate-resilient designs, we are investing in both human security and long-term development,” a Planning Commission official told the Daily Sun.
He added that the initiative bridges disaster preparedness with social services like education, ensuring maximum returns on public spending.
A critical intervention in a climate-vulnerable nation
Bangladesh, a deltaic nation on the frontline of climate change, faces frequent cyclones, tidal floods, and storm surges. Its 710-kilometer coastline, home to more than 45 million people, is highly exposed to extreme weather events.
While the country has made notable progress in early warning systems and preparedness, aging infrastructure remains a weak link in disaster management.
“Rehabilitating these shelters is no longer optional, it is a critical component of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction,” said an LGED official. “This project not only ensures safety but also secures children’s right to uninterrupted education.”
Dual-purpose infrastructure
Each upgraded shelter will be structurally reinforced to meet international disaster safety standards. Planned improvements include wind- and surge-resistant construction, solar-powered energy systems, safe water and sanitation facilities, and accessible evacuation routes.
Classrooms will also be redesigned with student-friendly layouts, making the facilities suitable as primary school buildings during non-emergency periods.
This dual-purpose model optimises public investment while addressing both disaster preparedness and education needs.
Data-driven and urgent
A 2013 survey under the Emergency Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRRP) estimated that Bangladesh requires 7,124 new cyclone shelters and the rehabilitation of 1,554 existing ones by 2025 to provide minimum safety coverage.
So far, the government, with support from development partners like the World Bank, has built over 4,000 shelters and rehabilitated nearly 900 through ECRRP and the Multipurpose Disaster Shelter Project (MDSP).
Still, at least 644 older shelters remain in urgent need of refurbishment, many further damaged by Cyclone Amphan in 2020, which displaced millions and caused widespread destruction.
Post-Amphan assessments found that up to 44% of public infrastructure in coastal areas was either severely damaged or unusable, underscoring the pressing need for reconstruction and modernisation.
Aligning with global goals
Officials say the initiative contributes not only to immediate disaster preparedness but also to Bangladesh’s long-term development vision.
It supports commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Perspective Plan 2041, which prioritises rural resilience, infrastructure modernisation, and human development in climate-vulnerable regions.
___________________________________________
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]
Edited by: Anayetur Rahaman
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Govt to rebuild 220 cyclone shelters as climate-resilient community hubs
In a major step to strengthen climate resilience in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, the government is set to rehabilitate 220 cyclone shelters across coastal districts under a Tk48.7 crore project.
The initiative aims to transform aging facilities into climate-resilient, multi-purpose community hubs that will serve as emergency shelters during disasters and safe educational spaces for rural children in normal times.
Scheduled to begin in July 2025 and conclude by June 2028, the project will be led by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, in coordination with the Planning Commission and other rural development bodies.
“Cyclone shelters are not just infrastructure; they are lifelines for millions in coastal areas. By rehabilitating them with modern, climate-resilient designs, we are investing in both human security and long-term development,” a Planning Commission official told the Daily Sun.
He added that the initiative bridges disaster preparedness with social services like education, ensuring maximum returns on public spending.
A critical intervention in a climate-vulnerable nation
Bangladesh, a deltaic nation on the frontline of climate change, faces frequent cyclones, tidal floods, and storm surges. Its 710-kilometer coastline, home to more than 45 million people, is highly exposed to extreme weather events.
While the country has made notable progress in early warning systems and preparedness, aging infrastructure remains a weak link in disaster management.
“Rehabilitating these shelters is no longer optional, it is a critical component of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction,” said an LGED official. “This project not only ensures safety but also secures children’s right to uninterrupted education.”
Dual-purpose infrastructure
Each upgraded shelter will be structurally reinforced to meet international disaster safety standards. Planned improvements include wind- and surge-resistant construction, solar-powered energy systems, safe water and sanitation facilities, and accessible evacuation routes.
Classrooms will also be redesigned with student-friendly layouts, making the facilities suitable as primary school buildings during non-emergency periods.
This dual-purpose model optimises public investment while addressing both disaster preparedness and education needs.
Data-driven and urgent
A 2013 survey under the Emergency Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRRP) estimated that Bangladesh requires 7,124 new cyclone shelters and the rehabilitation of 1,554 existing ones by 2025 to provide minimum safety coverage.
So far, the government, with support from development partners like the World Bank, has built over 4,000 shelters and rehabilitated nearly 900 through ECRRP and the Multipurpose Disaster Shelter Project (MDSP).
Still, at least 644 older shelters remain in urgent need of refurbishment, many further damaged by Cyclone Amphan in 2020, which displaced millions and caused widespread destruction.
Post-Amphan assessments found that up to 44% of public infrastructure in coastal areas was either severely damaged or unusable, underscoring the pressing need for reconstruction and modernisation.
Aligning with global goals
Officials say the initiative contributes not only to immediate disaster preparedness but also to Bangladesh’s long-term development vision.
It supports commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Perspective Plan 2041, which prioritises rural resilience, infrastructure modernisation, and human development in climate-vulnerable regions.
___________________________________________
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]
Edited by: Anayetur Rahaman