Navigating coordination challenges for flood relief operation in Bangladesh: A moderating role of resources scarcity

This study examines the coordination challenges faced during relief operations for flash flood victims in Sylhet, Bangladesh, highlighting the moderating role of resource scarcity. Drawing on the Transactive Memory System (TMS) theory, the research examines the effects of knowledge sharing, trust, and communication on the effectiveness of relief operations. A quantitative survey collected data from five flood-affected districts, including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Netrokona, and 260 stakeholders, including government officials, NGO personnel, volunteers, and residents. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) revealed that knowledge sharing, trust, and communication significantly enhanced relief operations. At the same time, resource scarcity moderated the relationship between communication and relief operations, but not between knowledge sharing and trust. Training emerged as a significant control variable positively influencing relief efforts, whereas leadership had no statistically significant effect. These results supplement the disaster management literature by validating TMS in a resource-constrained humanitarian context and pointing out the importance of structured coordination mechanisms, trust-building strategies, communication protocols, and capacity development initiatives. The study offers actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to improve inter-organisational collaboration and operational resilience in future disaster responses. • Find out the challenges of relief operation . • Applying structural equation modeling (SEM) . • Quantitative research method . • Knowledge sharing and trust have significant impact on relief operation . • Relief operations and society welfare . • Efficient uses of resources .