Bridging Science and Community
A study on exploring pathways to develop community-based lightning early warning systems in Bangladesh
Plan International Bangladesh’s new study reveals that combining scientific forecasting with local community knowledge is essential to creating effective, life-saving lightning early warning systems in rural areas.
Bridging science and survival
To save lives, we must bridge the gap between national meteorological forecasting and local community action.
Lightning is one of the deadliest climate-related hazards in Bangladesh, claiming more lives annually than floods or cyclones. Since the government recognised lightning as a natural disaster in 2016, vulnerable rural communities still face severe risks.
The highest impacts occur in haor ecosystems like Sunamganj, where farmers and fishers work outdoors during peak lightning hours.
Protecting lives is not only a technical imperative; it is an ethical and systemic responsibility.
Addressing critical system gaps
Despite improvements in forecasting capacity, critical gaps remain that prevent warnings from reaching those who need them most.
Key challenges identified in the study include:
- Limited risk knowledge and awareness among low-literacy and marginalised groups.
- Warnings that are often unclear, overly technical, or issued with too little lead time.
- A severe lack of lightning-safe shelters in exposed agricultural and haor regions.
Empowering communities for early action
The report proposes a scalable Community-Based Lightning Early Warning System (CB-LIEWS).
This framework integrates advanced forecasting tools with community-based practices to ensure warnings are timely and actionable.
To build resilience, the study recommends:
- Establishing a ground-based real-time lightning detection network for accurate, localised forecasts.
- Adopting multi-channel communication, including sirens, mosque loudspeakers, and voice calls in local dialects.
- Building lightning-safe shelters near high-exposure zones and conducting community-led safety drills.
Read the full report here
Bridging Science and Community
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The study “Bridging Science and Community: Exploring Pathways to Develop Community-Based Lightning Early Warning Systems in Bangladesh” was conducted with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) as the technical lead, providing scientific guidance and oversight.
Plan International Bangladesh supported the study through logistical and operational facilitation, while NIRAPAD served as the consultant agency responsible for research execution and technical assistance.
The study was further strengthened by contributions from a multi-agency Technical Working Group.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely acknowledge the continued support of the field-level contribution of the staff from Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA).
We are grateful to community members, government officials, and participants of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) for their valuable insights, which ensured the study reflected local realities and perspectives.
We sincerely recognise the Technical Reviewers Netai Chandra Dey Sarker, Director (MIM), Department of Disaster Management (DDM), S. M. Quamrul Hassan, Meteorologist, BMD, and Dr. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, Meteorologist, BMD for their expert review and validation of the report.
We sincerely acknowledge the Technical Working Group (TWG), whose technical expertise and field engagement, including in-person visits to Sunamganj, were critical to the successful completion of this study. Their direct engagement with communities, local government representatives, and other stakeholders ensured the effective integration of scientific evidence with local realities, contributing to the development of a scientifically sound and socially responsive early warning system. The TWG comprised Netai Chandra Dey Sarker, Director (MIM), DDM; S. M. Quamrul Hassan, Meteorologist, BMD; Dr. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, Meteorologist, BMD; Mohammad Shazed, Advisor – Humanitarian Affairs, Plan International Bangladesh; Sakib Imtiaz, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, RIMES; Salauddin Rubel, Coordinator, FOREWARN Bangladesh; Javed Miandad, Manager – Anticipatory Action, Save the Children International, and Rezwana Sultana, Coordinator – Anticipatory Action, Caritas Bangladesh.
Categories: Emergencies
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