Composition | Natural Calamities In Bangladesh
Natural Calamities In Bangladesh
Bangladesh is most vulnerable to several natural disasters and every year natural calamities upset people's lives in some part of the country. The major disasters concerned here are the occurrences of flood, cyclone and storm surge, flash flood, drought, tornado, riverbank erosion, and landslide. These extreme natural events are termed disasters when they adversely affect the whole environment, including human beings, their shelters, or the resources essential for their livelihoods. The geographical setting of Bangladesh makes the country vulnerable to natural disasters. The mountains and hills bordering almost three-fourths of the country, along with the funnel shaped Bay of Bengal in the south, have made the country a meeting place of life-giving monsoon rains, but also make it subjected to the catastrophic ravages of natural disasters. Its physiography and river morphology also contribute to recurring disasters. Abnormal rainfall and earthquakes in the adjacent Himalayan range add to the disaster situation. Effects of El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the apprehended climatic change have a great impact on the overall future disaster scenarios. Since Bangladesh is a disaster prone country, it is subject to colossal damages to life and property almost every year.
Flood is a recurring phenomenon in the country, locally termed as Bonna or Borsha based on the intensity of monsoon rain, magnitude and time of occurrence. When the floodwater damage resources, and disrupt communication and livelihood systems, then it is treated as Bonna. Bangladesh gets damaging floods like that of 1988, which bring untold sufferings to millions of people, and result in human deaths, loss of livestock, spread of diseases and hunger, damaged standing crops, destroyed physical and economic infrastructures, damaged fish and shrimp ponds and hatcheries, etc. Cyclone and storm surges occur frequently and cause significant destruction in the coastal areas of the country. Nor’westers and tornadoes also frequently hit different places. Tropical cyclones and tornadoes uproot trees, telephone, telegraph and electricity lines, destroy bridges, culverts, and houses, kill people and domestic animals, leaving serious and adverse effects on the economy as well as on the whole environment. Although this country with monsoon climate has enough rain, droughts frequently take a significant portion out of the agricultural economy of Bangladesh, and cause hunger, instability, and insecurity. The northwestern part of the country is vulnerable to drought. Disastrous erosions are mainly associated with the major river systems of the country and are seen along these river banks i.e., the Brahmaputra- Jamuna, the Ganges-Padma, the Lower Meghna, and other rivers. The effects of a natural disaster or a combination of more than one natural disaster may be direct loss of life, and certainly damage to physical properties. This requires large resources for disaster management including mitigation, recovery and preparedness. Therefore, the consequences of these natural hazards and the resulting environmental degradation pose a serious threat to the economic development of the country. The situation calls for an effective disaster warning and dissemination system. A timely and accurate alert system about impending disasters will help reduce the loss of life and property (Pramanik, 1991). Natural disasters cannot be prevented, but the damage can be mitigated with adequate planning and adaptation. The impacts of these disasters vary with their type and magnitude. They also critically depend on institutional strength and response by the different agencies that usually take measures to mitigate and eventually overcome the losses, such as the government and other civil service organizations.
It has often been pointed out that the worst disasters in the world tend to occur between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, which is coincidentally the area that contains the poorer countries (Carter, 1991). This applies to Bangladesh where the cause of natural disasters is its geographical setting. The lofty Himalayas in the north, and the funnel-like shape of the Bay of Bengal in the south, have made Bangladesh one of the worst victims of the catastrophic ravages of natural disasters like floods, cyclones, storm surges, droughts, etc. Various anthropogenic activities contribute to worsen the situation. Due to recurring disasters, the country is subject to food shortages in spite of its fertile land, network of rivers, subtropical monsoon climate, and hardworking people. A large part of the population is dependent on agricultural production. But harvesting of produce is often affected by extreme natural events and the weather patterns frequently associated with them.
Bangladesh is a land of many rivers, and heavy monsoon rains. The upstream deforestation, heavy rainfall, melting of glaciers, and soil erosion play a vital role in causing siltation in riverbeds. This in turn leads to natural disasters like floods, flash floods, etc. The upstream activities also enhance the magnitude of damages caused by these disasters. The upstream withdrawal of water due to the Farakka barrage across the Ganges in India leads to local drought conditions in regions of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the largest delta in the world.
Cyclones can cause immense loss of life and destruction of property during pre-monsoon (April- May), and post-monsoon (October-November.) periods. The Bay of Bengal is the breeding place of catastrophic cyclones. Heavy rains accompanying cyclones, and the tidal waves due to wind effects, called storm surges, cause most of the damages. Storm surge heights are directly related to cyclone intensity. Besides that, coastal configurations and bathymetry are also related to surge heights at the time of cyclone landfall. Astronomical tides in combination with storm surges lead to further amplification of surge heights, resulting in severe flooding.
It is the pre-monsoon period when most of the abnormal rainfall or drought conditions frequently occur in different parts of Bangladesh. Also there are locally severe seasonal storms, popularly known as Nor’westers (Kalbaishakhi). Severe Nor’westers are generally associated with tornadoes. The tornado forms within the Nor’wester, and moves along the direction of the squall of the mother storm.
The north and northeastern parts of Bangladesh are the most active seismic zones, and had experienced earthquakes of moderate to high intensity in the past.
Erosion in Bangladesh is a regular and recurring phenomenon. Erosion of land surfaces, riverbanks, and coastal areas is already causing serious problems for the country. An increase in rainfall in summer is apprehended due to climate change, and this would in turn increase the surface erosion. Land erosion will intensify through current deforestation, and other land use practices.
Natural disasters have a tremendous impact on the overall economy of the country. Apart from the instant impacts, natural disasters can also leave long term impacts.
Almost every year due to natural disasters and climatic hazards, Bangladesh is subject to colossal loss of life and damage of property. All the national planning efforts for development are disrupted by these calamities that leave behind damaged infrastructure facilities, physical assets and land. The human suffering goes beyond description.
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Questions and Answers about Natural Disasters in Bangladesh:
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1. What are some natural disasters that happen in Bangladesh?
Floods, cyclones, storms, droughts, riverbank erosion, and landslides.
2. Why is Bangladesh so vulnerable to natural disasters?
Because of its location (mountains in the north, Bay of Bengal in the south) and climate (heavy monsoon rains).
3. What are "Bonna" and "Borsha" floods?
They are different names for floods, depending on the intensity and timing of the monsoon rain.
4. What damage do cyclones and storms cause?
They destroy trees, buildings, and infrastructure, and can kill people and animals.
5. Why does drought happen in Bangladesh, even though it has a lot of rain?
Because sometimes there is not enough rain, especially in the northwest part of the country.
6. What causes riverbank erosion?
Heavy rains, melting glaciers, and deforestation upstream can cause rivers to erode their banks.
7. When do cyclones usually occur in Bangladesh?
Before and after the monsoon season (April-May and October-November).
8. What are "Nor'westers"?
They are seasonal storms that can bring tornadoes.
9. Where are earthquakes most likely to happen in Bangladesh?
In the north and northeastern parts of the country.
10. How do natural disasters affect Bangladesh's economy?
They damage infrastructure, property, and crops, and can disrupt development plans.