The COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) pandemic has proven to be the biggest global shock since World War II. That war resulted in 5.5 million deaths. The number of COVID-19-infected persons exceeded 13 million in the first 6 months of the pandemic and many more asymptomatic cases are undocumented. The global economy has been affected severely. The tension, the fear, the drastic measures to try to control the spread of the disease disrupted everyone’s life from child to senior. The condition is worse in the global south, such as in Bangladesh, where the average population density is 7.5 times higher than that of China, where COVID-19 began and spread uncontrollably at the end of 2019. Lockdowns and social distancing were tried to stop the transmission of the disease but were often not observed faithfully or were less effective than thought to be. People need to trade and interact to earn money to survive but these activities could endanger others’ lives if they do not maintain safety measures. Individual awareness is not only curtailing the spread of COVID-19 but also saves others’ lives. This cross-sectional study used Ordinal and Binary logit models to predict the level of awareness through potential regressors of the citizen toward COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Findings of the study are that the level of awareness is dependent on the level of trauma; also, that household income is a statistically-significant predictor of awareness. Behavioral activities such as use of masks, outdoor activities, and stockpiling tendencies are found to be statistically significant predictors of awareness as well.

Despite the public health concern, there is a dearth of research regarding perceived noise pollution and noise-related health status in Bangladesh. This study was carried out to evaluate the noise-related health status among Bangladesh’s adult population. 1386 adult Bangladeshis participated in an online survey. A linear regression model was used to evaluate overall noise-related health status determinants. 91% of the survey population reported noisy environments in their neighborhood, with the majority reporting two types (34%) of noise pollution sources. Road vehicles (38%) and construction activities (24%) were identified as significant source of noise pollution. The Bangladeshis are primarily exposed to noise during school and office hours. Socio-demographic information, perceived noise pollution and individual views towards noise pollution were examined as determinants of noise-related health problems. Females were found to be more impacted than males, and young people also expressed concern about noise pollution’s influence. Residents in mixed-unit buildings exhibited a significant level of noise-related health problems such as deafness, insomnia, heart disease, headache, stress, poor concentration, production loss, fatigue, irritability, heartburn, indigestion, ulcers, and high blood pressure. Noise pollution from road vehicles and industry has been shown to have a negative effect on people’s health. Individuals affected by noise were interested in noise reduction efforts. The findings of this research may aid in the improvement of international, national, and local noise control efforts.

Disaster has become a frequent phenomenon in today's world and is affecting many worlds' population. The urban areas are highly vulnerable to hazards as urban population is increasing rapidly. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is in high risk of earthquake, fire hazards, water logging etc. The study has been carried out to ascertain the challenges to implement the Disaster Risk Reduction in the schools of Dhaka city focusing the urban disaster such as earthquake and fire hazard. DRR integration in education system has ensured safe school facility for school going children as well as reducing the risk of community through school-community cooperation. This study follows the Comprehensive Global School Safety Framework, (GADRRRES) to find out the school preparedness and emergency management plan. Mixed method was carried out to collect and analysis data from students, their parents, teachers and staff about the condition of the DRR practices in education, plans and the challenges to implement DRR through FGD, semi-structured questionnaire survey. SWOT analysis has been conducted to understand the current condition of DRR practice in schools of Dhaka city. It has been observed that the respondents have little knowledge about DRR, and most of the schools don't have enough DRR practice and plan. Although DRR is integrated in curricula, the schools do not practice DRR exercises and trainings. A school management plan has been proposed to improve the current condition; thereby the schools of Dhaka city can be prepared for future disaster.

Bangladesh has frequently been affected by natural hazards, notably, cyclones in coastal areas. Humanitarian organizations are always active in helping affected communities through effective humanitarian supply-chain management by providing humanitarian goods and services, which is crucial to aiding vulnerable people after a natural catastrophe. However, some factors cause significant difficulties in achieving feasible humanitarian supply-chain (HSC) management that eventually ends up as a disfunctional and ineffective system to support to the community in need. Therefore, a lack of standard logistics support complicates horizontal cooperation between humanitarian organizations at various stages, along with relief aid. The motive of the paper is to identify and understand the barriers of HSC during the disaster preparedness and immediate response phase, particularly for cyclones in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Through an extensive literature review and consultation with experts from different humanitarian organizations, 10 barriers were identified. To illustrate the structural relationships among the selected barriers, an interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach with additional MICMAC (Matriced’ Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á unClassement) analysis is used for data analysis. This aids in evaluating relative dependencies and driving power among the selected barriers. Findings show that a lack of an integrated approach and coordination among government and other humanitarian stakeholders, the inefficacy of multilateral information sharing among them, and a shortage of experienced logisticians are the barriers with the highest driving powers in HSC. The findings of this study will help humanitarian experts, aid agencies who distribute humanitarian aid, and organizations, to set up a good supply chain for helping people in the coastal area of Bangladesh following cyclones.

The study investigates the existing scenario of disaster risk reduction (DRR) principles and practices in the schools of developing urban settlement. Bangladesh, being vulnerable due to disaster, has severe condition in some coastal areas due to climate change. People migrate to the capital city, Dhaka for better opportunity. In the last few years, DRR agenda is included in education programs to decrease the number of casualties and distressed people and reduce disaster losses. Increasing susceptibility begets higher risk; hence the study has been conducted focusing on urban disasters, especially Earthquake and Fire hazard. This study follows comprehensive global school safety framework (GADRRRES, 2017) to find out the school safety plan of schools in Dhaka city. It apprehended the viewpoints of children, teachers and local people about the situation of DRR education, plan and practices in schools by conducting FGD, Questionnaire survey. It has been observed although all respondents understand the importance of DRR, they lack interest of implementing it. Some schools run by the Government are following Drill, their condition are better than private schools considering DRR practices. Several strategic recommendations have been made at the end of the study to improve DRR preparedness in schools of Dhaka.