Floods, cyclones, landslides have become an unavoidable fate for the people of Bangladesh. Super cyclone Amphan swept through the southern parts of the country in May. The cyclone was so massive that it crossed the coastal areas and hit many districts in the northwest part. This has caused huge damage to crops and resources.
Currently, several northern districts have been flooded. Bangladesh locates to such a geographical position that a large area is submerged whenever there is a heavy rainfall in the upstream. The country also suffers from drought if water does not flow from the upstream. A total of 54 rivers of Bangladesh flow from India. But it was not possible to reach any water sharing agreement with India other than the Ganges, despite Bangladesh's continued efforts.
Almost all the rivers have swelled due to heavy rainfall ten per cent higher than normal this year in May-June. Many areas especially in the lowlands and pastures have been flooded due to the rise of water in the upstream. India's Assam, Meghalaya and the foothills of the Himalayas received 200 to 300 millimetres of rain a day.
According to meteorologists, strong monsoon winds are active across South Asia, including India. As a result, it is raining heavily in the Indian part. The rain is expected to increase in the coming days. As a result, there is a risk of flood till next September-October.
The flood-hit districts are Kurigram, Sirajganj, Bogura, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Tangail, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. The water level in the Teesta was high in the beginning but now it has started decreasing. However, the water of Jamuna and Brahmaputra has increased in the meantime. The people of Kurigram, Jamalpur and Sirajganj have been most affected. If the water of these rivers starts falling, flash floods may also occur in Manikganj, Munshiganj and Madaripur. Besides, if there is a heavy rain in Assam and Meghalaya in India, Bangladesh's Sylhet and Sunamganj region will be flooded.
Therefore, the government must now take adequate preparations for flood management and disaster management, especially amid the crisis of ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Therefore, the rehabilitation centres should be arranged in accordance with the hygiene rules, so that no one gets infected with COVID-19.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the flood-hit districts have been affected. Many crop lands have been submerged. Many who lost their livelihoods due to coronavirus outbreak had left the city and returned to the villages. Many people in rural areas have lost their works. In such a situation, this flood has added unspeakable sufferings to the lives of many.
The affected people have been provided with dry foods at the initiative of the district administration and the relief and disaster management ministry. But, the problem is that there is a huge gap between the demand and the distributed amount of foods. There have been allegations of irregularities in the past. In other words, the more affected people have been excluded and the less affected people were given relief. Strict surveillance is needed so that it does not recur.
Agricultural rehabilitation of flood affected people in the northern districts must be emphasised. It is necessary to ensure the supply of seeds and other agricultural inputs so that the farmers can cultivate Amon paddy in next season without any hindrance. The authorities must take preparation from now on.