Indigenous coping mechanism for combating disaster in Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted based on broad objective of exploring indigenous coping mechanisms for combating disaster at Koyra upazila of Khulna and Patharghata upazila of Barguna district. For attaining broad objective the study has been conducted with some important objectives (a) to know the socio demographic information of the respondents (b) to reveal the indigenous perception about disaster (c) to explore the indigenous coping mechanisms for combating disaster (d) to reveal the Governmental and NGOs mechanisms for combating disaster and (e) to draw some suggestions for improving the coping system with disaster. The study has been employed qualitative research method and selected 10 respondents for case study through using purposive sampling method and two FGDs were conducted in the study areas with community people. The findings of the study show that most of the respondents are not well educated. Most of the respondents live in house with less secured. The study reveals that almost every year disaster like flood, river bank erosion, cyclone and tidal surge hit in study areas. Disaster causes loss of property, environmental imbalance, damage of infrastructures, in word, people lead miserable life during or after disaster. Community people adopt different indigenous mechanisms for combating disastrous impact. The study indicates that people adopt these mechanisms before and after disaster. they take structural ( repairing embankment, raising homestead platform, construction of road etc) and non structural ( making people aware, tying houses with strong trees, planting disaster resilient trees, taking shelter in cyclone center during disaster, preserving food for future and dissemination of news about imminent disaster etc). The study also reveals that early warning system play crucial role in minimizing the consequences of disaster. The study found that community participation helps to lessen the negative effects of disaster. The Government and NGOs take initiative for recovering the catastrophic situation. The Government of Bangladesh take both structural and non structural mechanisms for combating disaster whereas NGOs take non structural mechanisms (making people aware, providing material services, providing training) only. The Government of Bangladesh has formulated disaster management act, policy and plan but people in the study area don’t have any idea regarding this issues. To combat or minimize the tragic circumstance of coastal belt, Government should formulate the coastal belt policy as well as implement the policy. The coastal belt should be made disaster resilient.