THE August flood was a major milestone in Bangladesh鈥檚 long-term fight against climate change. A depression and severe monsoon rainfall caused exceptional water levels in the region which is prone to seasonal flooding. Millions of people were devastated in Noakhali, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chattogram and Moulvibazar. The disaster wrecked infrastructure, agricultural land, fish farms and forced many people to evacuate. The flood highlighted the country鈥檚 vulnerability to climate change and inability to quickly manage disasters and adapt to future necessities.
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Scale and causes of flood
The monsoon season frequently cause extensive flooding, property damage and agricultural devastation. In August, the flood was unique because of multiple meteorological and human-induced elements. Low pressure over the Bay of Bengal intensified, causing an extreme rainfall. Meteorologists predicted an exceptionally heavy rainfall in the period. Consequently, the rising Meghna and Gumti flooded several towns, villages and agricultural areas.
Human-caused events also contributed to the flooding. India鈥檚 improper coordination in releasing water from reservoirs, particularly the Dumboor and Kalsi dams, added to the flooding, impacting downstream villages. Indian authorities justified the flooding by citing safety precautions, but the Bangladesh government and villagers condemned the lack of notice and demanded more damage reduction. The trans-boundary rivers in the region require cooperative water management, which India and Bangladesh often dispute.
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Climate change
CLIMATE change contributes to flood severity in Bangladesh. Nearly 80 per cent of the terrain is below two metres, making it vulnerable to such disasters. Increased emissions from human activities exacerbate global warming. It causes intense and sporadic rains beyond the rainy season, but it is the severest in the monsoon season. Global warming is causing more severe weather throughout South Asia, including Bangladesh, and the evidence is growing every year.
In Bangladesh, the worst impact of climate change is an excessive sea level increase. Two major risks to the nation are river flooding and sea level increase. Salinity and land degradation devastate millions of people in the low-lying coastal belt. Coastline agricultural areas become uninhabitable because of the sea level increase. Seawater incursions from the August flood inundated cropland, increasing food insecurity.
Climate change also affects Himalayan glacial mass loss, which supplies Bangladesh with major streams. Meltwater from the rainy season and sustained rainfall cause significant delta flooding. Over a few decades, Bangladesh鈥檚 monsoon river flow has increased, perhaps, because of global warming.
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Humanitarian and economic impact
THE August flooding caused several problems. Millions of homeless people lacked basic needs. Reports show that 5.8 million people in the north-east and the south-east and nearly a million more in flood-stricken areas were affected. Organisations such as the UNHCR, Red Cross and local agencies provided food, medical supplies and temporary shelters.
A huge, essential economic burden was observed. The flood submerged a large area of agricultural land, affecting rice and vegetables and economy. Fishing was wrecked by flooding. Livestock fatalities cost rural people economically. In Bangladesh, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and UN country team reported 263,035,855.7 hectares of agricultural losses to the flood.
As many roads, bridges and houses were submerged or washed away, structural damage was severe. Rebuilding will be slow, especially in remote areas, without roads. Even emergency aid agencies and volunteers struggled to reach the remote areas because of infrastructure damage.
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Disaster management and adaptation
BANGLADESH has improved its disaster management, notably for floods and cyclones. In recent decades, early warning systems, cyclone shelters and community-based disaster preparedness initiatives have saved many lives. However, the August flood showed that the disaster response processes were lacking in coordination and resource allocation.
Improving flood prediction accuracy and localisation were a major issue. The Meteorological Department and the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre have made significant progress in forecasting, but the monsoon system鈥檚 complexity and climate change unpredictability make it difficult. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System have been improving their regional level forecasts using satellites and ground measurements. However, there is still a need for increased investment in transmitting community flood information which is also crucial.
Bangladesh is leading global climate change resilience efforts. The Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and the National Adaptation Programme of Action introduce various measures to mitigate climate- and disaster-related vulnerabilities. Increased infrastructural flood resilience, climate-resistant crops and restoring and protecting natural ecosystems such as wetlands and mangroves that buffer floodwaters are among the approaches. However, insufficient funds often hinder adaptation efforts. Bangladesh is developing and cannot fund large-scale adaptation projects. The international community has offered support through structures like the Green Climate Fund, but funding has been delayed and falls far short of what is needed to meet the overall threat.
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Need for international cooperation
GIVEN the cross-border nature of most rivers, international coordination is essential for managing flood threats. The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna originate in other nations. Their water resource policies may, therefore, affect Bangladesh鈥檚 downstream regions. The August flood highlighted the water management issues between Bangladesh and India. Despite agreements on river water use and sharing, an uncoordinated water release by India nearly invariably caused catastrophic and devastating flooding.
Because of global climate change hazards, trans-boundary water management must be more targeted and thorough. Such agreements should also cover upstream-downstream cooperation, real-time rainfall, river flow and dam operations exchange mechanisms To avert future floods like the August one, such cooperation is necessary.
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Moving forward
The August flooding is also an illustration of climate change and its impact globally. If we do not address fossil fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, such calamities will become the new normal. The need for reforms is obvious. The time for action is now.
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Md Ayatullah Khan is a doctoral researcher in the geography department in Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.