M F Rahaman
Dhaka, 19 January 2026:
Bangladesh has launched its first-ever “Adaptation Fortress,” a new type of climate-resilient shelter designed to protect vulnerable communities not only from cyclones but also from extreme heat. The pilot project is being constructed at Baradal Aftab Uddin Collegiate School in Assasuni upazila of Satkhira district, one of the country’s most climate-exposed regions.
The initiative is led by the Jameel Observatory Climate Resilience Early Warning System Network (CREWSnet), a collaboration between MIT and Community Jameel, in partnership with BRAC. Unlike traditional cyclone shelters, the Adaptation Fortress is designed to function as a cooling refuge during increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves in southwestern Bangladesh.
The upgraded shelter will feature solar panels with battery storage to ensure uninterrupted electricity during power outages, enabling cooling systems to operate during emergencies. Rainwater harvesting and a mechanism to share excess solar energy with nearby households will further position the shelter as a local hub for resilience and community wellbeing.
If successful, the pilot could be scaled up to 1,250 Adaptation Fortresses across southwestern Bangladesh, potentially providing heatwave relief to more than 500,000 people. A second pilot site has already been selected at Satbaria High School in Jashore district.
Climate scientists warn that Bangladesh faces rising temperatures alongside persistent cyclone risks. Southwestern Bangladesh alone is home to over 30 million people, many of whom have already endured repeated cyclones and now face growing heat stress that disrupts schools, health services, and livelihoods.
Project leaders say the Adaptation Fortress offers a blueprint for integrating heat protection into existing disaster infrastructure, marking a significant step toward proactive climate resilience in Bangladesh and beyond.
Source: BRAC