Koyra, on the southern edge of Bangladesh, is one of the five upazilas of Khulna district, and is actually the second-largest upazila in the country. Yet it is grappling with an insufficient number of cyclone shelters in relation to what is needed. It has only 117 centres to accommodate more than 3 lakh people during any natural disaster.
During disasters, residents are forced to take shelter in overcrowded rooms without adequate food, water, or medical facilities.
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Moreover, there are no separate toilet facilities for men and women, making the situation particularly difficult for pregnant women, adolescents, and menstruating individuals.
On the occasion of Disaster Preparedness Day on March 10, affected residents demanded that women and child-friendly cyclone shelters be constructed to address these issues.
A Coastal Region in Constant Fear
Koyra, a coastal upazila in southwestern Bangladesh bordering the Sundarbans, consists of 131 villages across seven unions and is surrounded by the Kapotaksha, Shakbaria, Shibsa, and Aarpangashia rivers, and is making it highly prone to tidal surges and flooding.
Every year, tidal surges during full moons and new moons cause embankments to break, submerging villages. As a result, residents must seek shelter in cyclone centres, which remain their only refuge during storms.
Though several deadly cyclones like Sidr, Aila, Amphan, Yaas, and Remal crossed off the country, the fear of natural disasters still haunts the people of the upazila. However, the lack of adequate cyclone shelters continues to put lives at risk.
Insufficient Shelters & Growing Demands
According to the Upazila Project Implementation Office, there are only 98 cyclone shelters in educational institutions and 19 more under the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and the Fael Khair Program under Islamic Development Bank.
Mizanur Rahman, 50, a resident of Jorshing village under the upazila, said, "Every year, we fight to survive natural disasters. We urgently need more cyclone shelters to ensure our safety during storms."
Murshida Akhter, a women’s leader from Koyra-2 village, said, "The existing shelters are not women and children-friendly. Pregnant women, adolescents, and menstruating women suffer the most. Women-friendly cyclone shelters have now become a pressing demand."
Selina Akhter Laily, a member of Koyra Sadar Union Parishad, emphasised the need for "separate toilet facilities for women in every shelter."
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Nirapad Munda, coordinator of the Upazila Climate Council, addressed that six out of seven unions in Koyra—particularly those near the Kapotaksha and Shakbaria rivers—are highly vulnerable. More cyclone shelters are urgently needed.
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Sheikh Nazmul Huda, assistant project coordinator of NGO Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS) at the upazila, said that committees are being reactivated to ensure proper maintenance of cyclone shelters in Koyra Sadar, Dakshin and Uttar Bedkashi unions, with volunteers and CPP members receiving disaster preparedness training.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md. Mamunur Rashid admitted that due to poor planning and management, residents remain fearful of cyclones and tidal surges, with more cyclone shelters urgently needed to ensure their safety.
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Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ruli Biswas said that the government was informed about the need for additional cyclone shelters in her upazila. Steps are being taken to construct more shelters under government supervision.