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Environmental and Socio-economic Aspects of Flood in Bangladesh

Mohammad Rezaur Rahman
Institute of Flood Control and Drainage Research, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka -1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Flood is an annual event in Bangladesh and causes significant damage to the economy and hardship to the society.Every year, a considerable part of Bangladesh is inundated by flood. While flood plays a positive role on the natural environment, its impact on society and economy is becoming overbearing for a developing country like Bangladesh. Flooding played an important role towards the development and sustenance of the natural environment of the Bengal delta. It is difficult for a developing country like Bangladesh to withstand such yearly losses. Riverain flood of the three major rivers, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna (GBM) dominate the flood situation in Bangladesh. The riverain floods due to the GBM system are mainly responsible for the development of Bengal delta and thereby had exerted considerable influence in shaping its environment. Other types of flood that occur in Bangladesh are rainfall flood, flash flood, tidal flood and storm surge flood. River floods are the most extensive and long lasting floods. They affect the active river floodplain and may cause flooding on adjacent meander floodplain by backwater effects. Compared to the riverain floods, the effects of the other floods although may be severe in nature, are rather location specific. From the study, it could be inferred that, flood .mitigation measures which among others contain estimation of flood losses and valuation could at the same time may help in capturing the benefits of yearly flooding as well. This could lead to be a better option than conventional flood control measures in addressing the problem.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Flood, Mechanism, Benefits, Damage, Mitigation

Location: All over Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Flood

Objectives:

To assess the effect of flood on the environmental and socio-economic aspects in Bangladesh

Methodology:

The focus of this paper was on the riverain floods due to the GBM system. The total catchment area of the GBM river system stands at 1.74 million sq.km and covers areas of China, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Only 8% of the GBM catchment lies within Bangladesh. The normal sequence of riverain flood is mainly influenced by snowmelt in the Himalayas and the monsoon which sets in June and continues upto August. The Brahmaputra starts rising in March/April due to snowmelt in the Himalayas and attains a peak in June. It rises again and reaches the annual peak in late August from heavy monsoon rainfall. The recorded maximum peak discharge was 98,300 cumec in 1988. The Ganges starts rising in June/July and attains the peak in late August or early September. The recorded maximum peak discharge was 76,000 cumec in 1987. The Meghna river is a rainfed river and usually attains its peak in August/September. Although it is a relatively small river, severe flooding occurs in the Meghna Basin due to heavy rainfall in its catchment, one of the highest in the world, frequently aggravated by the backwater effect of the Padma. The recorded maximum peak discharge of the Meghna was 19,800 cumec in 1988. The GBM system falls into Bay of Bengal through a single outlet within Bangladesh. River flood are frequently aggravated by backwater effect in the single outfall due to spring tides and monsoon setup in the Bay of Bengal which slows down drainage causing increase in flood duration. Furthermore, simultaneous occurrences of peak flood flows in the Ganges and Brahmaputra is liable to cause widespread flood, sometimes covering more than half of the country. The extent of flood corresponding to different return periods taken into account. In the analysis some assumptions were considered for Environmental and Socio-economic aspect of flood in Bangladesh which were Large floods in recent past, Historical trend of Flood, Ecological functions of flood, Flood damages to economy, Social impact, Coping with flood, and Flood mitigation.

Source of Information: International Symposium on Natural Disaster Prediction and Mitigation, December 1-5, 1997, Kyoto, Japan

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Findings suggest that, floods not only enhance poverty but it also widens the income gap between the rich and poor.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings