Background
Emergency telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICTs) are critical for disaster management and risk reduction. As the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) leads Pillar 3 of the Early Warnings For All (EW4All) initiative, focusing on warning dissemination and communication.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), with support from ITU, successfully hosted the EW4All Pillar 3 Workshop on 18–19 June 2025 in Dhaka. The workshop focused on advancing Bangladesh’s National Emergency Telecommunication Plan (NETP) and implementing a Cell Broadcast Early Warning System to enhance disaster preparedness and response.
Objectives
The objectives of the workshop were:
- Discussion on the EW4All Pillar 3 Roadmap for Bangladesh: ensured alignment with national priorities and stakeholder contributions.
- National Emergency Telecommunication Plan (NETP): considered the telecommunications industry’s state of readiness and involvement in disaster management and reviewed the draft NETP framework, recommendations and action plan, and developed an implementation plan for the NETP.
- Early Warning Systems based on mobile networks: provided an overview of the key mobile early warning technologies to implement a geo-located mobile early warning system.
- Cell Broadcast–enabled CB EWS: understood the capabilities and the benefits of using cell broadcast technology for disseminating early warnings and emergency alerts, and the implementation in Bangladesh.
- Legal and regulatory framework: analyzed the legal and regulatory frameworks for the implementation of CB EWS in Bangladesh.
The event was attended by more than
60 participants representing the following stakeholders:
- Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR)
- Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
- Department of Disaster Management (DDM)
- Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD)
- Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC)
- Armed Forces Division (AFD)
- Mobile Network Operators
- Swedish Embassy (as a key development partner)
- UN Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO)
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- NGO, INGO, Academia and several national stakeholders in disaster management
Workshop Outcomes
The discussions and collaborative sessions led to several key outcomes:
National Emergency Telecommunication Plan (NETP):
- Consensus on the strategic importance of NETP for disaster risk reduction;
- Recognition of ICT’s critical role in ensuring communication resilience across all disaster phases (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery);
- Agreement on strengthening inter-governmental coordination and public-private collaboration.
Cell Broadcast Early Warning System:
- Emphasis on integrating Cell Broadcast into Bangladesh’s existing early warning infrastructure;
- Preliminary agreement on the system’s technical architecture;
- Highlighted the need for robust legal, regulatory, and operational frameworks.
Implementation Roadmap:
- Development of a draft action plan with timelines for NETP execution;
- Defined governance structure with clear roles and responsibilities.
A Step Forward for Disaster Resilience:
This workshop marked a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen its disaster early warning systems. The outcomes directly contributed to finalizing the EW4All National Roadmap, ensuring timely and targeted alerts for at-risk communities.
