Disaster Management Act

of Bangladesh: A Discussion
on Emphasizing Specific
Issues
FLOW OF THE PRESENTATION:
INTRODUCTION

DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT OF BANGLADESH

OBJECTIVE OF THE ACT

ANALYSIS, GAPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

EMPHASIZING FOUR SPECIFIC ISSUES

COMPARATIVE FEATURES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

ACTS OF BANGLADESH, INDIA AND PAKISTAN

AT A GLANCE

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION:
o Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries of the
world in terms of frequently occurring natural and man-
made disasters. Some of common disasters of Bangladesh
are floods, cyclones, storm surges, droughts, tornadoes,
river bank erosion, fire etc.

o The country faces at least one major disaster a year; it has

lost on average 3.02% of its GDP every year during the last
10 years (1994-2004) and holds the highest disaster
mortality rate in the world.

o One of government’s effective initiative to mitigate

disasters is formulating ‘Disaster Management Act’ in 2012,
which is a piece of law after a long collective effort by the
government and civil society actors to create a legislative
tool under which disaster and emergency management will
be undertaken.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2012:
o The Disaster Management Act was approved by the
National Parliament on 12 September 2012 and then
came to effect from 24 September 2012 after having
signed by the by the honorable President.
o The 17 page Act is comprised of 6 chapters, 60 sections
and 1 schedule.
o The document promotes the all-hazard. all-risk and all-
sector approach and endorses the comprehensive
disaster management model developed through a long
trial and error basis that has earned global recognition.
It puts equal emphasis on disaster risk reduction and
emergency response management with greater focus on
equitable and sustainable development.
CHAPTERS OF THE ACT:

There are 6 chapters in the act. These are:

1. Preamble
2. Organizational Structure of Disaster Management
3. Disaster zone declaration, participation of different
forces etc.
4. Disaster Management Fund, Relief Vault etc.
5. Offense, Punishment etc.
6. Miscellaneous
OBJECTIVE OF THE ACT:
o Substantial reduction of the overall risks of disasters to
an acceptable level.

o Effective implementation of post disaster emergency

response

o Recovery and rehabilitation measures with more skills

o Provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to the

most vulnerable community people

o Strengthening of institutional capacity for effective

coordination of disaster management
 Analysis, Gaps and
Recommendations on
Disaster Management Act of
Bangladesh emphasizing 4
specific issues
4 Specific Issues to be Discussed:

1. Gender
2. Food Security
3. Disaster and
4. Climate Change
A. GENDER:
Gender Issue in the act:
There is only one section in the act, where the gender issue
has been included:
o In section 27, there is a point named ‘Assistance for the
person affected and vulnerable by the disaster’. In this
section it is said that, women will get preference while
providing assistance after the disaster.
Gaps Regarding Gender Issue in the act:
o In the definition of ‘Relief’ women’s necessary, hygiene and
sanitation things are not included.
o There is no representative from the Ministry of Women and
Children Affairs in National Disaster Management Council
(NDMC).
o In National Disaster Response Coordination Group there is
also no participation from the Ministry of Women and
Children Affairs.
o Special activities towards women as a vulnerable group is
not included in Section 23- ‘Special activities to be done
about distressed area’
o In chapter 5 ‘Offense, Punishment etc.’, punishment for
harassment and abuse of girls and women during disaster
time is not mentioned.
Recommendations Regarding Gender Issue
to be included in the act:
o Women’s hygiene and sanitation things have to be
included in the definition of Relief.
o Representative from Ministry of Women and Children
Affairs have to be involved in the committees of
National Disaster Management Council and National
Disaster Response Coordination Group.
o Punishment should be imposed for the harassment and
abuse of girls and women during the disaster time.
2. FOOD SECURITY:
Food Security Issue in the act:
o In the definition of ‘Relief’ in Section 2, Chapter 1, food
security is included.
o There is also mention of food in the definition of
‘Services’.
o Ministry of Food and Disaster Management is a
stakeholder in every committee and group which also
ensures the issue ‘Food Security’.
Gaps Regarding Food Security in the act:
o There is no mention of how to use the Emergency
Food Warehouses during disaster time.

o There is no specific discussion of ensuring food

security during disaster period.

o In Chapter 5, there is no specific punishment for

stocking food and making the price of food higher.
Recommendations Regarding Food Security:
o There should be specific principles of using food
warehouses after the disasters strike.
o Coastal areas of Bangladesh are always in lack of food.
There should be rules of giving priority to the coastal
people for distributing relief (especially food).
o In Chapter 5 of Disaster Management Act, specific
punishment should be included for stocking food and
creating artificial demand of food during any disaster.
3. DISASTER:
Disaster Issue in the act:

- The Disaster Management Act of Bangladesh

highlights an overall discussion on disaster
through the description of regulative and
legislative tools of disaster management.
Gaps on the Topic of Disaster in the act:

o No specific disaster related discussions, only an

overall overview.

o In Section 17, there are national level

committees on earthquake and cyclone but no
committee on flood though flood is the most
occurring disaster in Bangladesh

o No specific disaster oriented fund.

Recommendations Regarding Disaster to be
included:
o A national level committee on flood should be
included.
o Individual fund should be constructed for every
common disaster as different disasters create
different types of impact on us and their
characteristics are also different to each other.
o Urban disasters should be included in the act.
4. CLIMATE CHANGE:
Climate Change Issue in the act:
o There is a definition of ‘Climate Change’ in
Section 2 of Chapter 1.
o In the definition of ‘Disaster’, the issue of
Climate Change has been included.
o In Section 12 ‘Establishment of National
Disaster Management Research and Training
Institute’ the issue of Climate Change has been
mentioned emphasizing research on it.
Gaps Regarding Climate Change Issue in the
act:
o In ‘National Disaster Management Council’ and
‘National Disaster Response Coordination Group’,
there is no representative from Climate Change Cell
which is under the Ministry of Environment and
Forests.
o Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
(BCCSAP) 2009 is not discussed in this act.
o In Chapter 4, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund
is not included.
Recommendations Regarding Climate
Change to be included in the act:
o In ‘National Disaster Management Council’ and
‘National Disaster Response Coordination Group’, there
should be representative from Climate Change Cell as
most of the disasters are occurring due to climate
change.
o Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
(BCCSAP) 2009 should be discussed in this act.
o In Chapter 4, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund
should be included.
MAJOR COMPARATIVE FEATURES OF DISASTER
MANAGEMENT ACT OF BANGLADESH, INDIA AND
PAKISTAN:

Items Bangladesh India Pakistan

Highest National Disaster National Disaster National Disaster
Authority Management Management Management
Council (NDMC) Authority (NDMA) Commission
(NDMC)
Chair: Prime Chair: Prime
Minister Minister Chair: Prime
Minister

Disaster -National Disaster - Central Fund - Central Fund

Fund Management Fund - Provincial Fund - Provincial
- District Fund Fund
- District Disaster - Emergency
Management Fund Fund
Contd…

Items Bangladesh India Pakistan

Disaster Mentioned Not Mentioned Not Mentioned
Insurance

Relief Standard Not clearly Minimum Minimum

mentioned standard for standard
relief
considering class
and sector
Punishment for - Clearly - 1-2 years jail Specified
Offence mentioned - Financial punishment
-Minimum punishment
punishment is 3
months
imprisonment.
- Financial
punishment
AT A GLANCE…
o Disaster Management Act of Bangladesh is very
important while using legislative tools of disaster
management.
o It was approved in 12th September, 2012.
o There are 6 chapters in this act.

o Missing things:
- Disaster wise discussion.
- Duration oriented discussion.
- Empowering local government.
- Empowering women
- Humanitarian standard
- Gender issue
Contd…

Less Emphasized Issues:

- Sustainability
- Incident Management
System
- Ecological issues
- Food security
- Climate change
CONCLUSION:

Disaster Management Act of Bangladesh has been

enacted to make the disaster management process
operative and to formulate rules to build up
infrastructure of effective disaster management to fight
all types of disasters. Though some issues have been
overlooked in this act, this can be more effective by
including those issues.
REFERENCES:

o Mallick, D.L., Rahman, A., Alam, M., Juel, A.S.M., Ahmad,A.N., &
Alam, S. S. (2005). Case study 3: Bangladesh floods in Bangladesh:
A Shift from disaster management towards disaster preparedness.
IDS bulletin, 36(4), 53-70
o https://www.omicsonline.org/climate-change-and-its-impact-on-
food-security-in-bangladesh-a-case-study-on-kalapara-
patuakhali-bangladesh-2157-7617.1000155.php?aid=18821
o http://www.foodsecurityportal.org/bangladesh
o http://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/implementation-
disaster-management-act-155992