Bangladesh Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Millions Spent on Ineffective Lightning Arresters
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Despite recurring reports of lightning-related fatalities across Bangladesh, the government is revisiting a controversial plan to install lightning arresters—a technology that experts warn may be ineffective, costly, and widely misunderstood by the public. Since being declared a “national disaster” in 2016, lightning has claimed countless lives, prompting the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry to invest approximately 195 million taka in 2021-2022 to install 335 lightning rods across 135 sub-districts. However, the lack of a comprehensive national evaluation of these installations has left their efficacy in doubt.
Local accounts from districts like Chapainawabganj and Habiganj suggest that many of these arresters have fallen into disrepair due to a lack of maintenance, while fatalities continue to occur in areas where the devices are present. Local administrative officials often struggle to verify the functionality of the units, admitting that tracking data—or even confirming if the devices have successfully diverted a single strike—remains a challenge. In one instance, a supplier reportedly informed the ministry that only one lightning strike had been captured by their installed units over an entire year, underscoring the potential futility of the project.
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The skepticism surrounding these devices stems from both technical limitations and a fundamental public misconception. Scientific guidelines indicate that a standard lightning rod only provides protection within a very limited radius, typically 20 to 30 meters. Even advanced Early Streamer Emission (ESE) technology, which claims a wider coverage area, is subject to intense international debate. Critics, including organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), have long questioned the superiority of ESE systems over traditional methods. Furthermore, the risk of “side flashes”—where high-voltage current jumps from the rod to nearby objects or individuals—creates a false sense of security that can lead to increased danger for those working in open fields.
Experts argue that the reliance on hardware is a misguided solution for a country the size of Bangladesh. Professor Md. Rafiuddin of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has consistently challenged the feasibility of using arresters to prevent lightning deaths, noting that the sheer number of devices required to cover the country’s vast, lightning-prone plains would necessitate a prohibitive investment of billions of taka. Even former disaster management advisors have acknowledged that the technology is impractical for widespread implementation, suggesting that public awareness and early warning systems are far more critical than physical rods.
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Despite these warnings and the lack of empirical success from the initial project, the government appears poised to move forward with further investment. While government officials state that they are consulting with researchers to find a path forward, they maintain that lightning arresters remain part of a broader strategy, which may now include the construction of specialized shelters in high-risk zones like the Haor regions.
Disaster management expert Gauhar Nayeem Wara emphasizes that hardware alone cannot solve the crisis. He argues that without significant investment in accurate forecasting, mobile-based early warning systems, and, most importantly, grassroots education on lightning safety, these installations remain an expensive, unproven, and potentially misleading intervention. As the country marks International Lightning Safety Day, the debate remains unresolved: whether to continue investing in debated technology or to pivot toward a comprehensive strategy centered on public education and life-saving behavioral change.
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