Bridging science and community: exploring pathways to develop community-based lightning early warning systems in Bangladesh

The report explores how combining scientific forecasting with local community knowledge can help develop effective community-based lightning early warning systems in Bangladesh. It highlights that lightning is one of the deadliest climate-related hazards in the country, particularly affecting rural areas such as the haor ecosystems of Sunamganj where farmers and fishers are frequently exposed while working outdoors.

The study identifies key gaps in the current warning system, including limited risk awareness, unclear or delayed warnings, and a lack of lightning-safe shelters in high-risk areas. It proposes a scalable Community-Based Lightning Early Warning System (CB-LIEWS) that integrates real-time detection networks, multi-channel communication methods such as sirens and mosque loudspeakers, and community-led safety measures to ensure warnings are timely, accessible, and actionable.