Vulnerability Assessment to the Natural Disaster in the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh: A Case Study on Cox’s Bazar Paurashava

Abstract

Bangladesh is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to the natural disaster 
worldwide. As Bangladesh is densely populated country, it is struggling to benefit its 
wider population from the current economic growth and social welfare. Different issues 
like global warming and climate change are putting all the development works into great 
challenges. In order to overcome these challenges, intensive research on disaster risk 
reduction programs are required. This paper works as a basis of such intensive research 
where socio-economic factors and geographical factors are identified to assess the 
vulnerability of Cox’s Bazar Paurashava and a combined vulnerable index has been 
formulated. The study tried to establish some parameters regarding vulnerability of the 
community of the urban areas of the coastal zone. Different local maps on the basis of 
social vulnerability, economic vulnerability and physical vulnerability of the area have
been prepared. This will help to prioritize government and non-government interventions 
according to the vulnerability category during critical conditions of any disaster period.