The negative impact of climate change on Bangladesh is becoming increasingly severe and dangerous compared to many other countries. Researchers warn that due to the country's geographical location, high population density, and economic structure, future impacts may strike as catastrophic disasters. Take 2014, for instance; suddenly, a devastating flood hit in September. Water levels rose by 7 to 8 feet within just 24 hours in districts like Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Feni, Comilla, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur, located in the southeastern part of Bangladesh and along the Indian border.
These areas, bordered by rivers running through India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, faced an unprecedented disaster in Bangladesh's 52-year history. Lasting two weeks, this flood affected over six million people and claimed more than 150 lives, with financial losses surpassing 200 billion BDT. Research institutions have directly linked such natural disasters in Bangladesh to climate change.
They explain that torrential rains and mountain runoff from upstream in India have caused severe flooding in southeastern districts. The water rose so rapidly that people in the affected areas had no chance to prepare. Many victims reported that floods were unheard of in these areas, yet this time, water submerged two-story homes and cut off communication over an area of at least 150 square kilometers.
Experts point out that excessive rain in India's Assam and Meghalaya is a major factor, but additional elements are at play. For instance, rivers in the region have lost their capacity to carry water effectively. With siltation diminishing the depth of rivers, the extra rainwater from Meghalaya and Assam cannot flow from the haor wetlands into the Meghna or Jamuna Rivers to reach the Bay of Bengal. Instead, it floods the inhabited areas of six districts, affecting six million people. In October, floods also struck Sherpur and Mymensingh in the northeastern region, areas surrounded by the Garo Hills that had never experienced floods before.
Surprisingly, water levels there rose by up to 15 feet in just one night. Observing these trends, climate experts suggest that such experiences are unprecedented in Bangladesh. Areas previously unaffected by floods are now being submerged. New disasters are hitting areas where rivers are silted and forests have been cleared for projects. So, is this nature's revenge?
In line with the global rise in average temperatures, Bangladesh is also experiencing a temperature increase. Between 1976 and 2023, the average temperature in Bangladesh has risen by 1.24 degrees Celsius, a shift that nature is struggling to adapt to. Unseasonal rainfall has become frequent, winter arrives late, and intense heat waves are spreading during summer. These changes are having severe impacts on agriculture and public health, disrupting crop cycles and creating new challenges.
Global temperature rise is primarily driven by greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to industrialized nations. However, countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan are bearing the consequences. The recurring forms of natural disasters every year bring not only concern but also fear.
The World Bank reports that Bangladesh's coastal regions face the highest risk from climate change, primarily due to rising sea levels. Between 1961 and 2018, sea levels rose at an average rate of 3.3 millimeters per year, and this rate has now increased to 5-7 millimeters annually.
With saltwater from the sea encroaching into inhabited areas, at least three million people in Bangladesh's coastal regions have been displaced. Experts and scientists warn that by 2050, 13 million people could become climate refugees, a crisis that could lead to famine or even pandemics within the country.
The writer is Executive President, South Asian Climate Change Journalists Forum, SACCJF & Current Affairs Editor, ATN BANGLA
