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Like any other disaster, flood disrupts the normal life patterns and individuals, families as well as the nation are exposed to great material and personal losses. Flood occurs in Bangladesh more or less every year. It shatters the economic backbone of the wage-labourers and sharecroppers, as many become practically unemployed for certain period of time. BRAC works with the poor section of the society who suffers more than any other group. The countrywide network of BRAC also suffered heavily from the recent devastating flood of 2004. BRAC’s goal of poverty alleviation among its targeted rural households suffered a severe setback. BRAC has a long experience in natural disaster management for the victims especially the poor people living in rural and urban slum areas of Bangladesh. Starting with relief work gradually BRAC has learnt how to extend assistance for the victims of other natural calamities. Being the largest NGO working for improving the socioeconomic condition of the poor in Bangladesh, BRAC is obliged to take a proactive and effective role in the relief and post-flood rehabilitation activities so that damages can be minimized and people are prevented from sliding into the poverty trap. Based on BRAC experience in disaster management few recommendations are made to reduce the risk of flood disaster in Bangladesh. |