On 24th March 2025, the Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP), a multisector program championing a ‘’Whole-of-Society’’ approach to disaster preparedness, organized its ‘’All Partners Coordination Meeting’’ in Dhaka. The event brought together 33 participants, representing four government ministries and departments, two leading universities—University of Dhaka and BRAC University, Bangladesh’s largest apex trade organization—the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), as well as seven NGOs and CSOs.
The meeting focused on reviewing BPP’s sectoral progress, exploring partnership strategies, and discussing how to integrate contributions into the upcoming 4th National Plan for Disaster Management (NPDM), which will shape Bangladesh’s disaster management from 2026 to 2031. The BPP Mobilization Desk, in consultation with partners, will develop technical guidelines to support the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR)’s revision process of NPDM, addressing existing gaps and ensuring a more robust disaster management framework for the future. In the meeting, participants discussed, group by group, what measures and targets should be added to the new revised NPDM in alignment with BPP.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. KM Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary of MoDMR and Chair of BPP. He emphasized the importance of local ownership in disaster preparedness and highlighted the need for continued support and collaboration. He stated, ‘’all partners need to come forward. Through BPP, ADPC has supported us for a long time. Now our support should increase and ADPC’s support will gradually decrease.’’ BPP is led by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) with technical assistance from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and the Gates Foundation. BPP supports the operationalizing of the Standing Order on Disaster to ensure that all sectors play an active role in disaster preparedness and response.
Mr. Ahmadul Haque, Additional Secretary & Director (Administration) of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP), shared insights into the transformative shifts in disaster preparedness in Bangladesh. He thanked ADPC for playing a transformative role in shifting from relief-based approaches to the “Whole-of-Society” model in Bangladesh, which integrates the private sector, government, and civil society, NGOs, and CSOs. He said, ‘’Disaster preparedness must no longer focus only on saving lives. It must address loss, damage, and livelihoods.’’
As Bangladesh faces increasing disaster risks, including floods, cyclones, and the looming threat of earthquakes, the continued collaboration and active participation of all sectors will be key to creating a safer, more resilient nation.
