Every year, the residents of Pakrul Madhyapara and surrounding villages in Char Pakerdaha Union, Madarganj Upazila, brace themselves for the rising waters of the Jamuna River.
Floods and riverbank erosion are constant threats in this remote char area of Jamalpur district. But this year, the story was different.
Thanks to an effective early warning system, community coordination, and timely financial support, hundreds of vulnerable families were able to act in advance and reduce the damage caused by flooding.
“We’ve been facing this for years. My own house situated on the bank of the river. But this year, the forecast came early, and we got organised quickly,” said Ahaj Uddin Fakir, Union Parishad Member of Ward 1.
He said “on receiving the flood forecast, a 12-member local disaster management committee was activated. This committee included representatives from different segments of the community: religious leaders, schoolteachers, journalists, volunteers, women leaders, traders, and elected officials.”
“Meetings were held to make action plans. Loudspeaker announcements from mosques, word-of-mouth messaging in markets, and door-to-door visits by volunteers helped spread the warning across the villages. Messages emphasised the urgency of protecting lives, livestock, and essential assets,” he added.
Kamrul Hasan, a volunteer who has been working in the area for over three years, explained, “We held courtyard meetings with farmers and women’s groups. If crops were harvest-ready, we advised them to collect them early. We helped relocate cattle to higher ground and brought livestock to shelters. Pregnant women were sent to safer homes of relatives.”
He said families moved quickly to protect their assets. Fishes were either sold off or protected with nets. Farmers managed to harvest ripened paddy and maize. Dry food, fodder, firewood, water purification tablets, and medicines were purchased and stored. In some cases, ponds were drained early, and fertilizer and pesticides were protected from flood exposure.
A vital part of this success came from early financial assistance. Under the SUFAL-II project, 750 families received emergency cash support before the flood reached its peak in 2023-2024 fiscal year.
“Because we received money early, we could buy food for our cattle and store dry food for ourselves,” said Ayesha begum, a resident of the area.
Sefali Begum, a local resident, shared her ordeal and said, “In 2024, I lost 12 bighas of land to floods. This year, the forecast and support helped us get ready. People came together and helped each other.”
Still, many residents struggle. Some houses have collapsed despite preparations.
Keyaful Begum, 75, whose house collapsed just few days ago, said, “I’ve lost four houses previously to riverbank erosion. This time, with the early warning and cash, we managed to save our essentials.”
Even with warnings, not everyone wanted to leave their houses. Emotional ties, fear of theft, and uncertainty kept many in place until the last moment.
Md Alamgir Hossain, Assistant Project Officer of SUFAL-II, summarised, “In a place where the main livelihood is cattle and crops, the right message at the right time makes all the difference. Early action is saving lives here.”
The successful early action taken in this remote char area offers a promising model for flood-prone regions across Bangladesh. With coordinated planning, community engagement, and timely support, disasters don’t have to mean devastation.
The people of Char Pakerdaha Union now understand the importance of early warning. They say, “If we are alerted in advance, we can protect our crops, livestock, and families.”
That’s why they appeal to government, non-government, and social partners— “Stand by people of this poor region. Give us forecasts, give us time to prepare. Your support is a blessing for us.”
