Speakers urge coordinated and standardized humanitarian response

The event was organized by Sphere Community Bangladesh (SCB), COAST Foundation, and Disaster Forum. SCB serves as a platform to promote the Sphere standards and advance quality and accountability in humanitarian action across Bangladesh

Disaster-affected people have the right to receive humanitarian assistance with dignity, and humanitarian actors must uphold globally recognized standards of quality and accountability. The Sphere Handbook brings together the Humanitarian Charter, Protection Principles, the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), and minimum standards for Health, WASH, Food Security and Nutrition, and Shelter and Settlement.

The launch of its Bangla edition will enable frontline workers and humanitarian practitioners to understand better and apply these standards, strengthening the quality, accountability, and effectiveness of humanitarian response.

Speakers highlighted these issues at the launch of the Bangla edition of the Sphere Handbook in Dhaka today.

The event was organized by Sphere Community Bangladesh (SCB), COAST Foundation, and Disaster Forum. SCB serves as a platform to promote the Sphere standards and advance quality and accountability in humanitarian action across Bangladesh.

The event, held at CIRDAP in the capital, was jointly organised by Sphere Community Bangladesh (SCB), COAST Foundation and Disaster Forum. SCB serves as a national platform promoting the Sphere standards and advancing quality and accountability in humanitarian action.

The Sphere Handbook consolidates the Humanitarian Charter, Protection Principles, the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), and minimum standards for Health, WASH, Food Security and Nutrition, and Shelter and Settlement. Organisers said the Bangla edition is expected to bridge language barriers and facilitate wider adoption of these standards among humanitarian practitioners across the country.

Addressing the event as chief guest, Razwanur Rahman, Director General of the Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, described the translation as a significant milestone for Bangladesh's humanitarian sector.

He said efforts should now focus on incorporating the Sphere standards into the government's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to institutionalise quality humanitarian response.

Carol Flore-Smereczniak, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, urged stakeholders to move "from paper to practice," stressing that international standards must be translated into timely and dignified assistance for people affected by disasters.

Juliette Murekeyisoni, Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Bangladesh, said localising the handbook would strengthen both accountability and inclusiveness in humanitarian operations.

Speaking on behalf of civil society, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, said the organisation would use the Bangla handbook to ensure humanitarian interventions remain aligned with globally recognised standards.

Representatives from international humanitarian organisations also highlighted key priorities for the sector. Zunaira Shams of the Sphere Secretariat in Geneva emphasised the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian standards, while Tooba Siddiqi, Regional Sphere Focal for Asia, called for stronger advocacy to localise the standards.

Takeshi Komino, Chairperson of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), said disaster-affected people should be informed about their rights and entitlements so they can hold humanitarian agencies accountable.

Meanwhile, Kobita Bose of Plan International Bangladesh called for a nationwide action plan with shared responsibilities to ensure effective implementation of the Sphere standards. Tahmina Haque of the NGO Platform Cox's Bazar underscored the importance of applying the standards more widely in the Rohingya humanitarian response.

The programme was chaired by Gawher Nayeem Wahra, Member Secretary of Disaster Forum, and moderated by Md. Iqbal Uddin. It brought together representatives from government agencies, UN organisations, international NGOs, humanitarian clusters and civil society organisations.

Participants expressed hope that the Bangla edition of the Sphere Handbook would contribute to improving the quality, consistency and accountability of humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh, particularly as the country continues to face frequent disasters and complex humanitarian challenges.