With the vision of establishing critical hubs for collecting, collating, storing, analyzing, and disseminating disaster-related information at both national and local levels, the Government of Bangladesh has constructed 65 multi-storied Disaster Management Information Centres (DMICs) at district and upazila levels across the country between 2018 and 2024. The core objective of this initiative was to ensure timely and reliable communication before, during, and after disasters to support coordinated action, risk mitigation, and resilience-building.

However, despite this significant infrastructure investment across Bangladesh, most DMICs remain underutilized. Recognizing this issue, the Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP)— led by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) with technical support from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and financial support from the Gates Foundation carried out an evidence-based assessment in three high-risk districts—Cox’s Bazar, Kurigram, and Bagerhat to identify the operational challenges and formulate policy recommendations for activating the DMIC network.

District-level stakeholders attending the workshop provide suggestions on how to activate the Disaster Management Information Center, following the recommendations revealed in the study

The study, titled “Strengthening Disaster Management Information Centers,” revealed several systemic challenges, including a lack of skilled human resources, outdated equipment, staff shortages, limited digital integration, the absence of a formal government policy for DMIC operations, and insufficient funding.

To address these shortcomings, the study proposes 32 recommendations, including establishing a legal and policy framework for DMIC operations, deploying trained Disaster Information Officers, equipping centers with modern IT and data storage infrastructure, and launching a centralized National Disaster Dashboard. The roadmap also emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships for funding, collaboration with mobile network operators for SMS-based alerts, and the establishment of a DMIC Training Academy in partnership with universities and international agencies. Additionally, regular simulation exercises and a dedicated maintenance budget are highlighted as essential for ensuring the long-term functionality of the DMIC network.

Group work session: identifying short-, medium-, and long-term plans for implementing the study’s recommendations

The findings were presented at a district-level multi-stakeholder workshop held on May 14 in Cox’s Bazar, one of the country’s most disaster-prone areas and home to the world’s largest refugee population. The event was attended by most district-level government officials from various concerned departments, DRR practitioners, academics, civil society representatives, journalists, chambers of commerce, NGOs, and educational institutions.

During the workshop, participants reviewed the findings, prioritized district-specific interventions, and outlined agency responsibilities for short, medium, and long-term actions. Stakeholders endorsed the idea of developing a “Cox’s Bazar Model DMIC” as a scalable and replicable prototype to guide nationwide implementation.

A Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) volunteer shares her insights during the DMIC study dissemination workshop. Beside her, another frontline disaster responder is also seen participating in the discussion.