Bangladesh has officially observed its first ‘International Lightning Safety Day’ with a national-level event held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Saturday.
The initiative, aimed at reducing lightning-related casualties, was organised under the European Union-funded SUFAL II project, led by CARE Bangladesh in partnership with Concern Worldwide and RIMES, and in collaboration with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
The event was inaugurated by Md Mostafizur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, who launched the slogan “When Thunder Roars, Get Indoors”.
This call-to-action is designed to embed life-saving behavioural responses into public consciousness in a country where lightning strikes cause approximately 350 deaths annually.
Official slogan for lightning launched 'When Thunder Roars, Get Indoors'
Highlighting the importance of early warnings and community preparedness, Mostafizur Rahman stressed that alongside technological advancements, public awareness is key to saving lives. As part of the event, a Lightning Awareness brochure was unveiled to educate citizens on safety measures.
Raihanul Haque Khan, Country Program Lead of RIMES, spotlighted the success of the experimental Lightning Nowcasting System—developed with technical support from RIMES and tested by BMD. The system can predict lightning up to six hours in advance using satellite and radar data.
Raihanul Haque Khan urged the government to support scaling up the system and institutionalising Lightning Safety Day every year.
During a technical session, weather expert Khan Muhammad Golam Rabbani presented data showing that Bangladesh experiences 3.36 million lightning strikes annually, with the highest impact seen in Sunamganj, Netrokona, and Sylhet.
He also discussed the education of 1,750 at-risk community members under the SUFAL II initiative.
Deputy Director of BMD, SM Quamrul Hassan, elaborated on the new forecasting system’s functionality and its dissemination through digital and direct messaging platforms.
A panel discussion followed, bringing together key officials from disaster and agriculture departments, meteorologists, and disaster management experts.
The dialogue focused on integrating lightning safety into school curriculums, improving message dissemination, and involving youth and volunteer groups in awareness campaigns.
The event concluded with a pledge from the Chief Guest, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening lightning preparedness, echoing the nation’s successful efforts in combating other natural disasters.
This landmark observance represents a crucial step towards reducing lightning fatalities in Bangladesh through timely warnings, education, and collective action.
