About Us

Organization of Disaster Management (ODM) was founded in 2024 with the vision of engaging young people in disaster awareness, preparedness, and community resilience.

The idea for ODM began in January 2024, during the first year of the founding members at the Department of Coastal Studies and Disaster Management, University of Barishal. During a class session, Momtahina Mitu, faculty member, Coastal Studies and Disaster Management, University of Barishal, encouraged students to utilize their early university years—when academic pressure is comparatively lighter—to engage in meaningful extracurricular activities and organizational initiatives.

This advice deeply resonated with several students. One of them, Md. Saif Ikbal Shaon, began reflecting on the possibility of establishing a student-led organization related to their field of study—Disaster Management. The idea was shared with Md. Zunayed Rabbi Prokash, who had prior experience in organizational work since Class 8 and strongly supported the initiative.

After few days, an informal discussion was organized near a Khayrabad bridge beside the University of Barishal campus. There, Shaon and Prokash gathered several batchmates and shared the vision of creating a platform dedicated to disaster management awareness and youth engagement. Through this discussion, they motivated their peers to take part in building a new organization.

On 20 March 2024, the journey of ODM officially began. Md. Saif Ikbal Shaon took responsibility as the Convener, while Md. Zunayed Rabbi Prokash served as the Member Secretary, together leading to establish the organization.

With prior experience in organizational management, Zunayed played a key role in preparing and organizing the official and structural documents necessary for the organization. By the grace of Allah, within four to five months, ODM was able to establish a strong initial foundation.

During the early stages, members at the established time, Md. Mahin Faysal helped grow followers on the ODM’s official Facebook page.

Many members at founded time contributed significantly to ODM’s early development, including Nazril Ehsan Rahim, Mohsina Rahman, Ashiqur Rahman, Jannatu Ferdous Barna, Sinthia Islam, Sadia Khanam, Nafida Akter Proma, Mohammad Saimun Rifat, Hamim Dewan, Abu Hena, and others.

In 2025, when the 2023–24 academic session joined the campus, several junior members from the department—Joy Das, Mufti Mahmud, Md. Sabbir Ahmed, and Al Mamun Siam—also began contributing actively to the organization’s activities and development.

The first program organized by ODM received its first donation from Farjana Mahmub, a respected faculty member of the Department of Coastal Studies and Disaster Management, University of Barishal.

ODM also benefited greatly from the guidance and encouragement of faculty members, especially Dr. Hafiz Ashraful Haque, who played an important role in supporting the organization during its formative stage. In addition, Irteja Hasan, faculty member, Coastal Studies and Disaster Management, University of Barishal, contributed valuable advice and support in various aspects of the organization’s activities.

The organization also received support from senior students including Eti Khan Mitu, Halima Akter, and Rakib Hasan, whose encouragement helped strengthen ODM’s foundation.

From a simple conversation among a few students, ODM has grown into a youth-driven initiative dedicated to promoting disaster awareness, preparedness, and community resilience. The organization continues to work with the vision of empowering young people to contribute to disaster risk reduction and sustainable community development in Bangladesh.