The WaterBlog

Community-Led Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangladesh

Jannatul Naim, Shaira Ahmed (Friendship NGO) The river islands of the Brahmaputra, particularly in the Gaibandha and Kurigram districts of Bangladesh, are heavily impacted by climate change, experiencing increasing river erosion, flooding, and frequent cyclones. One effective adaptation measure in these regions is the construction of plinths- elevated clusters of villages designed to provide a safe refuge from rising floodwaters. These plinths are built on oval-shaped mounds, raised above known flood levels, and serve as a critical shelter during extreme weather events. Each plinth can permanently house 25 to 30 displaced families and accommodate up to 100 to 150 families, along with their livestock and personal belongings, during emergencies. Every year, these plinths serve as designated flood shelters for local communities, with a pre-selected list of families that will take refuge during floods. In these plinths, an average of 25 pre-selected landless, marginalized families take permanent shelter. However, during emergencies, around 150 flood-affected households can temporarily seek shelter, depending on… Continued