Bangladesh is ranked among the top disaster prone countries in the world. The inhabitants of the islands

located in the Bay of Bengal have been weathering all sorts of natural calamities all their lives. While

some of these adversities are weak but recurring in nature, there are others which come suddenly and

leave a trail of destruction and devastation behind them. The geographical position of Bangladesh is

greatly responsible for the many natural adversities it faces. On account of its geographical location,

weather and being a riverine country, Bangladesh is exposed to natural disastersall of all kind, ranging

from flood, cyclone, drought, tornado, oceanic tidal wave to regional famine, malaria, wild elephant

attack, etc. Due to its geographical location, the country is also always at a risk from hazards such as

tsunamis and earthquakes. Furthermore, being a riverine country and surrounded by mountains, every

year thousands of people are made homeless by riverbank erosions and floods coming down the hills.

Besides humans are in constant danger of being harmed by man-made hazards among which,

deforestation, mountain cutting, mountain collapsing, brick kiln pollution, tobacco cultivation, over

usage of chemical fertilizer,bird flu, etc. are prominent. All these calamities have a great impact on the

national socio-economic situation of the country.

Despite being such an extreme disaster prone area, no long term planning or programs has been

undertaken to reduce the impact and damages of the disasters on the general people; importance has only

been given to relief distribution and rehabilitation.

In recent days the Government of Bangladesh with the financial and technical assistance of UNDP,

European Union, UK Aid, Australian Aid, Sweden and Norway Embassiestogether have undertaken a

revolutionary plan of action aimed at reducing the risk of natural disaster by adopting disaster

management programs. Initiatives has been taken to implement this disaster management program at

district and sub-district level (based on the information on district and sub-district’s socio-economic

state and circumstances, weather and climate condition, crises, dangers, capabilities and vulnerabilities

as well as identifying risk factors and methods to reduce the risks). We believe the implementation of

this program, through the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of Bangladesh, will contribute

significantly to the risk reduction of natural disasters.

And so in accordance, the Non-Government Voluntary Organization, Resource Integration Centre

(RIC), has been awarded the responsibility for implementation of the disaster management plan in

Moheshkhali, Cox’s Bazaar; and the dedication and relentless efforts of RIC’s staffs has successfully

developed and implemented it. Many measures had been undertaken by the plan, such as prevention of

riverbank erosion, construction of barrage where required, social forestation, construction of robust and

disaster enduring infrastructure, installation of deep tube well, dense forestation for the preservation of

weather and wildlife diversity, whose implementation will ensure income security and reduce the risk of

damages towards property.