Climate Shelters in Bangladesh Tackle Dual Threats of Heat and Cyclones

Southwest Bangladesh faces compounding climate crises. Over 30 million people live in a region vulnerable to both devastating cyclones and increasingly dangerous heatwaves. A new infrastructure initiative aims to protect the most exposed communities from both threats simultaneously.

The Jameel Observatory–Climate Resilience Early Warning System Network (CREWSnet) announced construction of its first Adaptation Fortress in Satkhira district. The pilot transforms an existing cyclone shelter into a dual-purpose facility providing protection from extreme heat for the first time in Bangladesh.

If successful, the initiative could scale to 1,250 Adaptation Fortresses, providing heatwave relief to half a million of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

Addressing Converging Threats

Between 2019 and 2021, multiple cyclones devastated southwest Bangladesh, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. Agricultural land and drinking water supplies flooded with saltwater, creating public health emergencies and destroying livelihoods.

Extreme heat compounds these challenges. In 2024, heatwaves caused nationwide school closures for two weeks. Some districts saw schools closed for six to eight weeks due to combined impacts of heatwaves and flooding.

The Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet used mid-century climate projections and analysis of local human systems to design the multi-purpose structure. Mohammed Jameel, founder and chairman of Community Jameel, emphasized the proactive approach.

“The Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet’s construction of this first pilot Adaptation Fortress marks a milestone for Bangladesh and the region,” he said. “It lays the foundation for a proactive response to cyclones and heat stress—emergencies that the team has projected will become frequent events, threatening the lives of millions in Bangladesh.”

Engineering for Resilience

The pilot fortress at Baradal Aftab Uddin collegiate school in Satkhira district features solar power generation and battery backup systems ensuring resilience during extreme heat conditions. The site includes rainwater harvesting capacity, with excess energy generated when air conditioning isn’t needed made available for community use.

The building serves as a school throughout the year and converts to a cyclone shelter during government-declared emergencies. Located within walking distance to the local market, health clinic and council building, it functions as a central community hub.

Dr. Deborah Campbell, executive director of the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet, outlined the necessity. “Bangladesh is getting hotter and will experience more frequent and severe heatwaves, leaving many people very vulnerable to heat stress and lacking the resources to adapt,” she said.

Performance will be evaluated through community surveys during heat season, operational feedback from the school committee, energy meters and hyper-local weather data. This evaluation will inform potential expansion across southwest Bangladesh.

From Vision to Implementation

The initiative originated from a 2019 visit to Bangladesh by a Community Jameel delegation led by Mohammed Jameel. The team met with BRAC leaders and learned firsthand about climate challenges facing people in southwest Bangladesh.

Community Jameel subsequently joined MIT to co-found the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet. One of MIT’s five Climate Grand Challenges flagship projects, the observatory brings together scientists and humanitarians from MIT, including the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab; BRAC; the International Water Management Institute; and Sudan’s Agricultural Research Corporation.

Professor Elfatih Eltahir, lead principal investigator, noted the innovation. “Bangladesh built a vast network of cyclone shelters that have been effective in protecting vulnerable population,” he said. “For the first time the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet is introducing the concept of shelter from heatwaves as well as cyclones in southwest Bangladesh.”

A second pilot location has been selected at Satbaria high school in Jashore district.

At COP28 in Dubai, the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet was selected as an innovation package by the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale, a joint initiative of the UAE government and the Gates Foundation. Chaired by Nobel laureate Professor Michael Kremer, AIM for Scale seeks partnership and investment into selected innovation packages.

The Adaptation Fortress model demonstrates how existing infrastructure can be reimagined to address emerging climate threats, offering a blueprint for similar interventions across South Asia.