Grassroots Disaster Governance in Bangladesh: The Roles of Union Parishads and Disaster Management Committees

Authors

  • Mohammad Fakhrus Salam Department of Political Studies, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Md. Borhan Uddin Hemel Department of Political Studies, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Arshadul Hoque Roni Department of Political Studies, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Jiban Chandra Pandith Department of Political Studies, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Nabilah Ma-ee-sha Department of Political Studies, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2025.7.2.21

Keywords:

disaster governance, participatory approaches, union parishad, union disaster management committees, community resilience, sustainable disaster management, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh’s disaster management discourse is often framed through the celebrated resilience and industrious spirit of its people, a lived heroism deeply embedded in their relationship with nature. However, national disaster management policies frequently fail to translate these narratives into substantive and practical local action. This study explores how participatory governance through Union Parishads (UPs) and Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMCs) can address this persistent policy–practice divide. Adopting a qualitative research design, twenty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted with UDMC members, local power actors, and disaster-affected residents across selected unions. The findings reveal critical structural gaps in disaster response, including the absence of temporary shelters, inadequate post-disaster rehabilitation support, and systemic inefficiencies in local governance. Weak institutional capacity, limited resources, and constrained community participation further undermine the effectiveness of UDMCs. The study argues for inclusive, bottom-up strategies that empower local communities, enhance participatory decision-making, and strengthen coordination between national frameworks and grassroots needs. Reinforcing participatory governance at the union level emerges as vital for fostering resilience and advancing sustainable disaster management in Bangladesh.

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Published

2025-12-24

How to Cite

Salam, M. F., Hemel, M. B. U., Roni, A. H., Pandith, J. C., & Nabilah Ma-ee-sha. (2025). Grassroots Disaster Governance in Bangladesh: The Roles of Union Parishads and Disaster Management Committees. International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 7(2), 395–404. https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2025.7.2.21

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2025): International Journal of Disaster Risk Management

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Fakhrus Salam, Borhan; Roni, Jiban, Nabilah

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