AN EXPLORATION OF CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION ARCHITECTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT OF BANGLADESH: WAYS FORWARD

Abstract

Bangladesh is a disaster-ravaged country. Since its independence, the country has experienced several deadliest disasters. Despite all such calamities, the country has established itself as a role model in disaster risk reduction and management in the world. Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) along with other stakeholders has taken different efforts in this regard. The military as one of the important stakeholders has always stood beside the nation. A good number of regularity framework allows military participation in disaster management too. It has been observed that no agreeable coordination mechanism between civil and military exist at the functional level. Every disaster is managed with a makeshift arrangement between civil and military. Disaster management modality in a multi-stakeholder environment is not very clear in the regularity framework specially in Standing Order on Disaster (SOD). Disaster Incident Management Team (DIMT) is one of such concepts indicated in SOD without any details. Therefore, the broad objective of the research was to develop a common civil-military response coordination architecture during any mega-disaster in Bangladesh. It was exploratory research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The non-probability sample size comprised both civil and military communities. Opinions of practitioners and scholars both from home and abroad were collected. International practices of Centre for Excellence in Disaster Management (CFE-DM) USA, ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA) Indonesia, Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Coordination Centre (RHCC) Singapore have also been studied. After analysing all survey data, detailed model of DIMT has been suggested in this dissertation. The model has been retained simply by keeping present practice in mind.  The concept is likely to provide better effectiveness in the overall coordination framework between civil and military in disaster management of Bangladesh.