With maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three as a result of potential storms, now is a good time for our authorities to remember that it is always good to be prepared beforehand rather than react after any natural disaster hits.
Be they cyclones or floods, they remain inevitable realities every year. As millions brace for the devastation of natural disasters, we must do our best to not scramble to respond.
The lesson every year is clear: Prevention must take precedence over reaction.
Bangladesh has made progress in early warning systems and disaster response, but preparedness remains uneven. Too many communities continue to lack resilient infrastructure, safe shelters, and reliable evacuation plans.
In addition, our urban areas are choked by poor drainage, while rural regions face embankments that crumble under pressure.
The cost of neglect every time is immense. Each disaster erodes livelihoods, displaces families, and drains national resources. Worse, the cycle repeats because prevention is sidelined in favour of short‑term fixes.
This is unsustainable, to say the least.
Preparedness means continued investment in resilient infrastructure, from cyclone shelters to flood‑resistant housing in areas that need them most.
It means strengthening local governance so communities can act swiftly and effectively and also integrating climate adaptation into every policy decision.
Most importantly, it requires a cultural shift: To see disaster preparedness not as an emergency measure but as a permanent national priority.
We cannot stop cyclones or floods. But we can continue to reduce their impact. Prevention is the way to do this, so that more lives are saved and more livelihoods protected.
