Bangladesh builds first cyclone shelter designed for heatwaves

For the first time in Bangladesh, a cyclone shelter is being designed not only to protect communities from storms but also to provide relief during extreme heat.

The Jameel Observatory Climate Resilience Early Warning System Network (CREWSnet), a collaboration between Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Community Jameel, has begun construction of the pilot "Adaptation Fortress" at Baradal Aftab Uddin Collegiate School in Assasuni Upazila of Satkhira, in partnership with BRAC.

The Adaptation Fortress will convert an existing school and cyclone shelter into a safe and cool refuge during heatwaves, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe in southwestern Bangladesh. Solar panels with battery backup will ensure uninterrupted electricity for cooling during power outages. The facility will also feature rainwater harvesting and a system to share surplus energy with the surrounding community, positioning the shelter as a local hub for resilience and well-being.

If the pilot proves successful, the initiative could be scaled up to 1,250 Adaptation Fortresses across the region, potentially providing heatwave relief to around 500,000 people. A second pilot site has already been selected at Satbaria High School in Jashore district.

Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel KBE, founder and chairman of Community Jameel, said the construction of the first pilot Adaptation Fortress marked a milestone for Bangladesh and the region. He noted that the initiative laid the groundwork for a proactive response to cyclones and heat stress, which were projected to become increasingly frequent and life-threatening. By adapting infrastructure today, he said, Bangladesh was building the resilience needed for the future.

Professor Elfatih Eltahir, lead principal investigator of the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet, said Bangladesh's extensive cyclone shelter network had been highly effective in protecting vulnerable populations. He added that, for the first time, the initiative introduced the concept of heatwave shelter alongside cyclone shelters in southwestern Bangladesh, significantly strengthening climate resilience in one of the country's most climate-vulnerable regions.

Dr Deborah Campbell, executive director of the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet, said Bangladesh was experiencing rising temperatures and more frequent and severe heatwaves, leaving many people vulnerable to heat stress with limited capacity to adapt. She said the Adaptation Fortress initiative could serve as a model for proactive climate-resilient infrastructure development across Bangladesh and South Asia.

Dr Md Liakath Ali, principal investigator of the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet at BRAC, said the organisation was proud to partner in pioneering the initiative to protect vulnerable coastal communities from extreme heat. He said transforming existing cyclone shelters into multi-purpose, climate-resilient infrastructure demonstrated how locally grounded solutions could address emerging climate hazards while strengthening community wellbeing. He added that BRAC would also engage policymakers to integrate future heat and climate risks into national planning processes.

Southwestern Bangladesh is home to more than 30 million people who face increasing climate risks. Between 2019 and 2021, multiple cyclones caused widespread damage to homes and livelihoods. Rising temperatures have added a new threat, with heatwaves disrupting education, health services, and daily life. The Adaptation Fortress aims to protect the most vulnerable residents from both cyclones and extreme heat, while serving as a blueprint for climate-resilient infrastructure.

The effectiveness of the pilot shelter will be assessed through community feedback, energy monitoring, and local weather data to inform the potential expansion of Adaptation Fortresses across the region and beyond.