Assessment of existing cyclone shelters in disaster-prone areas of Bangladesh: A case study of Barguna and Bhola
Nadim Siddique
Graduate Student, University of Alabama, USA
Arefin Riad
Research Associate, University of Alabama, USA
Ripon Hore
Adjunct Faculty, East West University, Bangladesh
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ear.v3i1.9051
Keywords: cyclone shelter; resilient; climate change; disaster
Abstract
Bangladesh, a low-lying riverine nation in South Asia, faces significant vulnerability to natural disasters due to its geographic position at the confluence of the Ganges (Padma), Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and Meghna Rivers. Its proximity to the Bay of Bengal further heightens the risk of frequent tropical cyclones, particularly during the monsoon season. The increasing severity of these events is compounded by climate change. This study assesses the current state of cyclone shelters in two disaster-prone districts, Barguna and Bhola, focusing on their architectural and structural adequacy. It identifies key challenges related to their functionality, highlights deficiencies in disaster preparedness, and evaluates design and construction aspects. The findings provide insights into existing limitations and propose strategic improvements to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of these shelters. Additionally, the study outlines areas for future research to strengthen disaster management initiatives.
References
1.Faruk, M., Ashraf, A.S., & Ferdous, M. (2017). An analysis of inclusiveness and accessibility of cyclone shelters, Bangladesh. International Conference on Building Resilient, Thailand.
2.Peduzzi, P., Chatenoux, B., Dao, H., Bono, A.D., Herold, C., Kossin, J., Mouton, F., & Nordbeck, O. (2012). Global trends in tropical cyclone risk. Nature Climate Change, 2, 289–294.
3.Lal, P.N., Mitchell, T., Aldunce, P., Auld, H., Mechler, R., Miyan, A., Romano, L.E., & Zakaria, S. (2012). National systems for managing the risks from climate extremes and disasters. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK; New York, NY.
4.Arefin, M.S., Talukder, M.A.R., Hore, S., & Hore, R. (2023). A novel study on present situation of infrastructure of water, sanitation, and hygiene of rural people in Bangladesh. Western European Journal of Historical Events and Social Science, 1(1), 44–58.
5.Hasan, M.M., Hore, S., Al Alim, M., et al. (2025). Numerical modeling of seismic soil-pile-structure interaction (SSPSI) effects on tall buildings with pile mat foundation. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 18(10).
6.Hore, S. (2023). Review of phosphate removal from water by various sorbents. Web of Technology: Multidimensional Research Journal, 1(1), 15–24.
7.Hore, S., & Hore, R. (2024). Analysis of dynamic soil properties by a systematic approach. In: Feng, G. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Civil Engineering. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 526. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4355-1_59.
8.Hore, S., Alim, M. A., & Hore, R. (2025). Post-Earthquake Soil Chemical Analysis: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Pathways for Sustainable Recovery. Frontiers in Applied Engineering and Technology, 2(01), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.70937/faet.v2i01.59
9.Hore, S., Alim, M. A., & Hore, R. (2025). Impact of earthquakes on soil chemical properties: A Review of mechanisms, changes, and implications for environmental and structural resilience, Earthquake, 3(1).
10.Talukder, M.A.R., Hore, S., & Hore, R. (2023). A review of soil chemical properties for Bangladesh perspective. Western European Journal of Modern Experiments and Scientific Methods, 1(1), 52–65.
11.Talukder, M.A.R., Hore, S., & Hore, R. (2023). Systematic approach of earthquake awareness analysis in Bangladesh. Earthquake, 1(1), 1–9.
12.Alam, E., Bhuiyan, R.H., & Rahman, M. (2004). Loss pattern of cyclone 1991: A study on Sandwip Island, Bangladesh. Chittagong University Journal of Science, 28(2), 67–78.
13.Alam, E., Collins, A.E. (2010). Cyclone disaster vulnerability and response experiences in coastal Bangladesh. Disasters, 34(4), 931–954.
14.Alam, E., Dominey-Howes, D., Goff, J., & Chagué-Goff, C. (2012). Tsunamis of the northeast Indian Ocean with a particular focus on the Bay of Bengal region – a synthesis and review. Earth Science Reviews, 114(1–2), 175–193.
15.Chowdhury, A.M.R., Bhuyia, A.U., Choudhury, A.Y., & Sen, R. (1993). The Bangladesh cyclone of 1991: Why so many people died. Disasters, 17(4), 291–304.
16.Emanuel, K., Sundararajan, R., & William, J. (2008). Tropical cyclones and global warming: Results from downscaling IPCC AR4 simulations. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 89, 347–367.
17.Francis, W. (1907). Madras District Gazetteer. Government Press: Visakhapattinam, Vol. 1, 152 pp.
18.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-12155-4.
19.Mosharof Al Alim, Shoma Hore, Fatematuz Zohora, Dipankar Ghosh, Ripon Hore. (2025). Advances in Smart Polymeric Materials for Sustainable and Next-generation Applications. Civil Engineering & Building Science, 2(1), 1-8. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/cebs.2025.06.001
20.Wang, Z., Xu, H., Zhan, Q., Saito, Y., He, Z., Xie, J., Li, X., & Dong, Y. (2010). Lithological and palynological evidence of late quaternary depositional environments in the subaqueous Yangtze delta, China. Quaternary Research, 73, 550–562.
21.Yokoi, S., & Takayabu, Y.N. (2010). Environmental and external factors in the genesis of tropical cyclone Nargis in April 2008 over the Bay of Bengal. Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, 88(3), 425–435.