Bangladesh’s Current Flood Scenerio

 ‘‘Rivers are the lifeblood of Bangladesh, but today they overflow with the tears of displaced families, as floods turn fields into oceans and homes into ruins.’’

 

 

In August 2024, Bangladesh once again faced a devastating flood, underscoring the country’s growing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. While Bangladesh is no stranger to monsoon floods, this year’s deluge was particularly severe, both in terms of intensity and the scope of its impact. A combination of relentless monsoon rains and high tides in coastal regions led to one of the worst flooding events in recent memory.

The Actual Scale of the Disaster

The flood affected nearly half of Bangladesh, particularly the northern and the southern coast. In certain places such as Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cumilla, Habiganj and Moulvibazar faced the worst brunt of tidal surges. The floodwaters inundated thousands of square kilometres of land, displacing millions of people and leaving homes, schools, and hospitals submerged.

Big rivers like Kornufuli, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Meghna and many other small rivers which snake through Bangladesh, swelled dangerously above their danger levels, with embankments breaking in multiple locations. These breaches caused rapid and widespread inundation, sweeping away livestock, homes, and standing crops. The government estimated that over 30 million people were directly impacted by the floods, many of whom were forced to flee to higher ground, makeshift shelters, or overcrowded flood relief center.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_floods_of_Bangladesh

Economic and Agricultural Devastation

The economic impact of the August 2024 floods has been crippling, especially for the agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of the country’s rural economy. Over 500,000 hectares of crops were destroyed, including key staples such as rice, jute, and vegetables. Many farmers lost their entire season’s harvest, with floodwaters not only destroying the crops but also depositing silt and salt, which could render the land unusable for months.

Beyond agriculture, the floods severely disrupted supply chains, with roads, bridges, and railways submerged or washed away. Rural roads connecting villages to markets were especially hard hit, making it difficult for relief efforts to reach affected populations. Major highways were submerged in several areas, causing transportation delays and economic losses. The damage to infrastructure is expected to require months, if not years, of reconstruction.

Additionally, fisheries and poultry farms were badly affected, with fish swept away and poultry lost to rising waters. The estimated financial loss from the disaster has already run into billions of dollars, further stressing an economy already grappling with inflation and the aftermath of the global economic slowdown.

Humanitarian Catastrophe 

The humanitarian fallout from the floods has been immense. Millions of people were left without shelter, food, clean water, or basic sanitation. In flood relief centers, overcrowding and poor hygiene raised concerns about the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Hospitals and clinics in the affected areas, already under strain, struggled to cope with the influx of patients. The government’s healthcare infrastructure was further strained as healthcare facilities themselves were submerged or rendered inoperative.

While the Bangladeshi government and international aid organisations mobilised quickly to respond, the sheer scale of the disaster made relief efforts difficult. Emergency supplies, including food, water and medicine, were slow to reach some remote areas, particularly those where roads and bridges were washed away.

Did India play a negative role in the August 2024 flood of Bangladesh ? 

India’s role in the 2024 floods in Bangladesh has sparked controversy, with some in Bangladesh accusing India of exacerbating the situation by releasing water from dams without prior warning. Specifically, the Dumbur dam in Tripura was blamed for worsening the flood in eastern Bangladesh. However, the Indian government and many experts have strongly denied these claims, stating that the flooding was primarily due to heavy rainfall across both regions. India emphasised that any water released from the dam was part of an automatic process once water levels reached a certain point, and they had shared relevant data with Bangladesh according to the joint river protocols.

Experts on both sides agree that the floods were largely a result of record rainfall, and while dam releases may have contributed marginally, they were not the primary cause. Indian officials also highlighted that parts of Tripura, closer to the dam, suffered significant damage as well, with heavy rainfall leading to widespread flooding and landslides there before the water reached Bangladesh.

Overall, while there were accusations of a lack of coordination, the main cause of the floods appears to be the intense monsoon rains, not deliberate actions by India to release dam water. The debate highlights the ongoing need for better communication and data sharing between the two countries, especially regarding their shared river system.

 https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-no-india-did-not-cause-artificial-flooding-in-bangladesh/a-70059159

Long-term Impact and the Path Forward

The floods of August 2024 have once again highlighted Bangladesh’s urgent need for more effective flood management and climate resilience strategies. The country has made significant progress in disaster preparedness over the past decades, but the scale of this year’s floods demonstrates that more needs to be done. Experts have emphasised the need for improved river embankments, better drainage systems in urban areas, and more resilient agricultural practices.

International climate aid and adaptation funding will be crucial in helping Bangladesh not only recover from the immediate effects of the floods but also to prepare for future disasters. With climate change expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Bangladesh, the stakes are higher than ever for the country to bolster its defenses against such natural calamities.