[🇧🇩] Smart Flood Management for Bangladesh

[Saif]

Forecasting flying rivers

The flash floods that struck the north-eastern and south-eastern districts of Bangladesh on August 20 shocked many and confused others about why those (floods) happened at all at a time when the interim government in the wake of a bloody political upheaval had just started its work. Was it to desta

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Forecasting flying rivers
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Aug 26, 2024 22:29
Updated :
Aug 26, 2024 22:29

The flash floods that struck the north-eastern and south-eastern districts of Bangladesh on August 20 shocked many and confused others about why those (floods) happened at all at a time when the interim government in the wake of a bloody political upheaval had just started its work. Was it to destabilise the new government that the sluice gate of the Dumbnur dam on the Gumti river in the Indian state of Tripura was opened? However, the Indian authorities denied such allegation suggesting that the gates automatically opened under intense water pressure. True, there was heavy rainfall in that Indian state from August 19 to August 22. So, until there is hard evidence on what actually happened, theories and speculations will fly around. Whatever the case may be, one thing that cannot be denied is that in recent times torrential rainfall has been wreaking havoc in different parts of South Asia. Scientists hold climate change caused by human action responsible for the rise in the number and frequency of such extreme atmospheric events. In these months of the year, frequent rainfalls are not uncommon. But consider that in recent days in parts of Tripura in India and in the eastern districts of Bangladesh, the precipitation was recorded at 200 millimetres. Such high rainfalls within a short span of time may cause rivers to burst their banks or any water control structures such as dams on them. No doubt, it is a new experience for populations in this part of the world.

Of late, climate scientists are coming across frequent occurrences of new types of weather patterns. Those include atmospheric rivers. These are large stretches of water vapour in the form of a column flying as clouds in the lower part of the atmosphere. The amounts of water these flying atmospheric rivers contain can be greater than that in our biggest rivers like Padma, Meghna or Jamuna. And when they come down in the form of heavy rains, what the people experience is nothing short of Noah's deluge. The devastating flood of 2022 (between June and October) that killed more than 1700 people and destroyed properties worth around USD15 billion in Pakistan was said to have been caused by such atmospheric rivers.

Flying rivers, however, are not something new to meteorologists. But what is new is that their number and the frequency of their appearance has increased in the South Asian region. A research report on the phenomenon published in the scientific journal Nature in 2023 said that a total of 574 atmospheric rivers were created between 1951 and 2020. And over the last two decades, 80 per cent of these most severe atmospheric rivers caused floods in India. The Gangetic floodplain called Bangladesh is naturally at the receiving end when such destructive weather events take place in the upstream region. According to a BBC report, scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the University of California through a study found that between 1985 and 2020, atmospheric rivers had a hand in seven out of the ten of India's most intense monsoon floods. The study further noted that as evaporation from the Indian Ocean has seen a significant increase in recent decades, thanks to the global warming, the number and frequency of floods caused by the flying rivers have also increased proportionately.

The bad news is that the atmospheric rivers are now getting longer, wider and deeper. Usually, an atmospheric river, on average, is about 2000km long, 500km wide and about 3km thick. But we have now even 5000km long flying rivers!

And there is also nothing surprising about that. With the increase in the content of water vapour in the atmosphere, the appearance of atmospheric rivers is increasing. The only way to face this calamity is to increase regional cooperation among South Asian nations to forecast such extreme weather events.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh's disaster warning systems need reform too, says Prof Ainun Nishat

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicted heavy rain in the eastern part of the country several days before the flash floods in the region. Then why wasn’t the public aware of the forecast? Water resource and climate change expert Prof Ainun Nishat said the technical jargon used in

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh's disaster warning systems need reform too, says Prof Ainun Nishat
bdnews24.com
Published :
Aug 27, 2024 12:07
Updated :
Aug 27, 2024 12:07

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicted heavy rain in the eastern part of the country several days before the flash floods in the region. Then why wasn’t the public aware of the forecast?

Water resource and climate change expert Prof Ainun Nishat said the technical jargon used in Bangladesh since the colonial period is not understandable by common people and causes miscommunications.

“For example, when the Met Office says a particular river is flowing 10 cm above the danger level and it would increase by another 5 cm in the next 24 hours. What does it mean?

“And what does it mean when they say the river is flowing 2 cm below the danger level?”

The Met Office issues rain forecasts based on information about the weather, such as depressions. Prof Nishat says the rainfall recorded in the country’s Sylhet and Khagrachhari before and during the flooding is ‘unusual’.

Nishat said, “The Met Office has predicted heavy rainfall, but common people do not know what is heavy, medium or light rainfall.”

Of course, the snags in communication aren’t the only cause of the intense flooding in 11 districts.

Heavy rain and floods also hit India’s Tripura, the rivers of which are upstream of Bangladesh. Normally, the water flows through these rivers to the sea through Bangladesh. But, the intensity of the rain in such a short period of time ‘unusual’ to Prof Nishat.

Thanks to their long-standing experience in handling cyclone and flood disasters, the skills of the country’s disaster management personnel have been praised at the international level for quite some time. But the administrative instability following the government changeover has made it difficult to take advantage of those skills, coordinate, and take quick action.

As the interim government prepares a roadmap for reforms to the state after taking power, Nishat recommends long-needed reforms to the weather and flood forecasting system to deal with future disasters.

The former member of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, or JRC, joined bdnews24.com’s ‘Inside Out’ and shed light on the cause of this year's floods, the exchange of information with India, the controversy over the opening of India's dams, and the need to reform the country's forecasting system.

He said the reports or warnings from the agencies should be given in a language understandable by the common people.

“Now the forecast is given in a language understandable to only officials. I can understand what is being said in a flood, rain or cyclone forecast. But the common people do not understand it. The system needs to be changed. This is a legacy from the colonial period. We are still following the practice.”

“Warning is something that the common people can understand such as in the Caribbean Islands in Jamaica or Barbados,” he said.

The latest episode of ‘Inside Out’ was broadcast on bdnews24.com's Facebook page and YouTube channel on Monday.

SITUATION WAS ‘UNUSUAL’

At least 11 districts of the country have been severely affected by the ongoing floods, which the Bangladesh Meteorological Department describes as 'flash floods'.

Flooding in Bangladesh in August is nothing new. However, the areas affected in the country's north and southeastern parts by floods had no previous records of such flooding during this season.

On Wednesday, heavy runoff came from India's Tripura towards Feni and Cumilla. Within several hours, a vast swath of the area was submerged, leaving more than 5.2 million people affected by the floods.

Since the start of the flooding, there has been debate on Facebook claiming that the opening of the gates of Dumbur dam in India’s Tripura led to the flooding in Bangladesh. India claims that the allegation is misinformation.

Under the bilateral protocol, India is supposed to provide information to Bangladesh on the upstream water level and rainfall.

When asked whether India has provided the information, the former member of the Joint Rivers Commission said, “They [India] informed us about the river water level and rainfall condition and warned of its changing circumstances. The Met OOffice did a forecast based on that and it came out in the newspaper but we didn't bother. The government agencies didn't take note of it.”

He blamed ‘unusually’ heavy rain in the eastern part of the country and lack of embankments on the Muhuri and the Feni rivers for the deadly floods.

Shedding light on the protocol for an exchange of information between the two countries, Nishat said India has provided data on the water level of more than a dozen rivers and rainfall since the 1980s after the formation of the Joint Rivers Commission in 1972.

“India provides water level and rainfall data to our meteorological department from areas close to the border and based on that they [the BMD] issue forecasts.”

Saying that the Bangladesh Water Development Board prepares flooding forecasts based on the information on river water levels, Nishat said, “River water data is provided to the Water Development Board and based on those, they run models and project what would happen in the next three days with confidence. The agency also issues warnings for five days or seven days.”

“This is a standard practice and has been happening for the last 15 years. There is a mechanism by which the data is transmitted and we explain to them what we are doing and where we use the data.”

Remarking that the information was provided this time too, he said, “The forecast of rain is a very crucial issue because that dictates the flow that dictates the flood. So it came and it was given to the Met Department and I would like to defend the Met Office by saying that they had issued the forecast.”

“The newspapers, Bangla or English, reported the heavy rainfall forecast for the eastern side seven days before the floods. This is because of a depression formed over the Bay of Bengal.”

Nishat continued, “So it is not a man-made event but an unusual one. There is scope for improvement in the quality of information if the two countries cooperate with each other. But as of today, whatever information they are supposed to provide under the agreement that is being provided.”

Explaining why the situation is so bad, he said, “They [India] had provided the data on the water level condition of the river and rainfall according to the protocol. But the flood was heavier in Feni and Tripura’s Belonia as the Feni and the Muhuri rivers do not have any control structure.”

“The water has come down. Of course, there was flooding on the Indian side as well as the Bangladesh side. If somebody had monitored it carefully, if the government management was very careful, then they could have alerted the people.”

He said the dam along the Gomti River is aged and was unable to tackle the high pressure of water or it broke down.

Recommending measures for people’s rehabilitation and other sectors, he said: “Let the people be supported in getting resettled immediately. Immediate support will be needed in the communications sector because of the damage to the roads and culverts. A part of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway has also been damaged, along with local small roads.

“And in the agriculture sector, something must be done because the Amon seeds have been damaged. It is not possible to immediately develop the seeds, they should be brought in from the flood-free area. The government should have done it.”

The expert also advised to form a high-powered committee immediately with professionals from the universities, civil society organisations and local leaders to implement the tasks.

‘UNUSUAL’ DOWNPOURS

Nishat called this year's flooding ‘unusual’ because of rain across a vast region and the intensity of the rain in a short period.

He said, “This particular rainfall pattern is natural but unusual on two counts. Firstly, it covered the entire eastern part of Bangladesh from Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali to Khagrachhari.”

Highlighting that heavy rainfall fell on the Indian side as well, he said, “The western side of Bangladesh is flat and starting on the hilly western side. We have hills in Chattogram only. So when the rainfall falls on a hill area, the rain comes very quickly.”

“The second unusual thing that happened, we had heavy short-duration rainfall. It happens maybe once in 50-100 years. The monthly rainfall of the Gomti area is a maximum of 400-500 mm. But that amount of rain fell in just two or three days. They [India] had about 200 mm of rainfall on Saturday.”

Giving an example to illustrate this amount of rain, he said: “If Dhaka experiences 500 mm of rainfall, I can guarantee you will come to your office by boat. So you can understand the huge amount of water fell on the Indian side as they also had experienced a very heavy flood.”

‘DAM HAS TO BE OPENED’ WHEN WATER RISES

Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath dismissed the claim that India’s opening of a gate at Dumbur Dam without warning is what led to horrific flooding in Bangladesh.

“The propaganda being done about the opening of the Dumbur gate is nothing but misinformation. No gate has been opened at the Gomti Hydro Power Station,” he said.

“The maximum storage capacity of the power plant reservoir is 94 metres. When the water level rises above that level, it automatically passes through the gate. Once the water level drops, the gate closes by itself.

“As the water level exceeds the maximum holding capacity, the water is coming out through two gates at the reservoir. Through one of the gates, the water is coming out at a ratio of 50 percent. The people in the concerned area were alerted about the situation in advance through megaphone announcements,” Ratan added.

Nishat said the Dambur dam, 120 km upstream of the Gomti River, holds rainwater and generates power throughout the year.

“According to Indian newspapers, we purchase 40 kilowatts of electricity from there. It stops the flood water significantly. But if that is full, then they have to release the monsoon water.”

Pointing out that the flooding is generally reduced due to the retention of monsoon water in the dam, he said, “The dam was constructed around 35 years back. So 35 years back when Bangladesh and India negotiated about the data on flood forecasting, possibly how the reservoir is behaving was not included in the protocol.”

“But that dam holds the excess monsoon water. The result is, for the last 35 years, neither in Agartala in Tripura nor in Cumilla in Bangladesh and the river route along Gomti River experienced any flood.”

Prof Nishat says the Kaptai Dam in Bangladesh also holds the monsoon water for the past 50 years, preventing major floods in Rangunia and other areas in Chattogram. He said, “If it becomes full, then we have a problem that happened yesterday [Sunday].”

“If the water level is 108 MSL above mean sea level, then they [India] would be compelled to open the gates. And if they open the gates fully, then there will be a heavy flood in Rangunia and downstream of the area. They have opened the gates but only by six inches.”

WHY DO DAMS COLLAPSE?

A dam is built to retain water. So why do dams often collapse under the pressure of water?

Nishat said the dams require a proper structure. They need to be properly designed and constructed with proper maintenance.

“I have doubts about the design. Whether they are designed correctly, possibly the design is done more or less correctly, but construction is weak and maintenance is almost not there.”

“So yes, you can get a forecast, you can get a warning. But unless your infrastructure is in good shape, you will be in trouble.”

“However, this year’s flooding is an extreme event that may happen once in 50-100 years. If you want a higher level of protection, then the expenses would be very high.”

When asked if there is any way to improve the administrative and local government response, Nishat said, “Globally, It is said that local people should be involved and it's called local level adaptation, or LLA.

“Bangladesh has two laws on the matter approved by the parliament in 2012 and 2013. One says the government should have a water management committee at the district, Upazila, union, and even at the ward level. The other requires the government to have a disaster management committee at the district, Upazila, union and even at the ward level. They should be set up by involving the local community.”

"So disaster and water management should be governed and managed by a local level committee. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, these committees have been formed but they have not been given the authority.”

“My appeal would be – involve the local community. I am sitting in Dhaka but if there is a flood in Feni’s Chhagalnaiya, the people living in that area will suffer. You may give the warning to me sitting in Dhaka. If I come from that area, all I can do is call my relatives and just inform them.”​

 

[Saif]

What really caused the floods?

In 20 long years, I haven't found anyone who started “anti-India” protests by bringing up floods, till now.

www.thedailystar.net

What really caused the floods?

The month of August saw simultaneous heavy rain in Northeast India, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN

The month of August saw simultaneous heavy rain in Northeast India, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya. Subsequently, water overflowed as the gates of hydropower plants, barrages and dams were opened. The upstream flow crossed the danger level at 14 points in seven transboundary rivers of Bangladesh. Many flood-control dams, including the one on Gomati, have collapsed. Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Khagrachhari, Habiganj, Chandpur, Cox's Bazar, Munshiganj, Sylhet, Lakshmipur, Chattogram, and Brahmanbaria have flooded. Twenty people have died, while more than five million have been affected.

This whole event has started a debate on whether the August floods are natural or politically-caused. Such a question is incorrect because all disasters have both natural and political aspects.

The main cause of the August flood is excessive rainfall in a short period. We witnessed similar floods recently in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Bandarban and even in Dubai. Climatologists maintain floods due to excess rain and meteorological droughts are impacts of climate change. Scientists have also proven that global warming is exacerbating the climate crisis and rich countries with their fossil fuel-dependent neoliberal, consumerist economies and systems are mainly responsible.

The connection between the August floods and the climate crisis is, in no way, apolitical. Floods are political irrespective of India's action of opening gates of power plants, dams, and barrages because the global politics centring the climate is a given. Besides, the unresolved river management undertakings between India and Bangladesh are also part of politics.

Also, the recent floods have given us a message, that whether it rains or not, the avenues for water to flow naturally have, over the years, decreased. As rivers and wetlands have been filled up, many canals disappeared, and floodwater, finding no space to flow, spreads all around, inundating the land.

A crisis of prediction and preparedness?

For a long time, we have been raising questions about disaster forecasting and preparedness. Lack of will, proactivity and accountability in providing forecasts and warnings have come to the fore many times. The practice of citizen forecasting—along with preparing for disasters by analysing cloud patterns, wind speed, temperature variations, constellations or various activities of flora and fauna—is now rare. The state never recognised this knowledge of the lower classes.

Only the Meteorological Department's forecasts are primarily considered now. Moreover, its information does not translate equally across the country, classes and professions. For example, "danger signal-10" does not mean the same thing in coasts, haors, hills and Barind regions. Besides, we see no early warnings or effective forecasts when haors are severely submerged by hilly run-offs or when Barind regions are scorched by severe droughts. Interestingly, the Met Office is under the defence ministry, as the state considers forecasting and warnings to be a "defence" aspect.

The connection between the August floods and the climate crisis is, in no way, apolitical. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN

Since Cyclone Sidr in 2007, forecasts relating to cyclones have been regularly broadcast. After Cyclone Aila in 2009, forecasts and disaster preparedness became more structured. Previously, disaster broadcasts were disseminated through radio, television, magazines, and loudspeakers or flag-pulling at the local level. During cyclones Bulbul, Fani, Amphan, Jawad, Roanu, Yaas, Sitrang and Midhili, online platforms and social media have also played an important role in cyclone warnings. Besides the Met Office, many independent meteorologists and organisations are providing forecast information too.

However, the tradition of disaster preparedness varies across the country. A culture of forecasting and disaster preparedness has developed relatively well in the coasts—not in all the 19 coastal districts, but predominantly in the Satkhira-Khulna region. In the Northeast's haors, especially in Sunamganj, Kishoreganj and Netrakona, people only prepare for disasters to harvest paddy in Boro season. In the north, the people of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari or Gaibandha have many advance flood-preparation practices. Haors face disaster risks in March-April, coastal areas in May-June and November, and other parts of the country in monsoon. But floods in August are a new phenomenon, at least according to the elders of Feni, Noakhali, Khagrachhari and Cumilla.

So, was there no prediction or advance warning for the current flood? There was, both before and after the July uprising. At the beginning of August, the Meteorological Department forecasted short-term floods in north, north-central and southeast regions. It pointed to heavy monsoon rains as the cause. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Water Development Board, the waters of seven transboundary rivers were flowing above the danger level. Even the outgoing head of state, at the beginning of July, relayed the possibility of floods. The South Asian Climate Outlook Forum predicted them way back in April.

Even after so many predictions, why weren't our preparations strong enough? The present government had virtually no time to prepare in advance, as many things happened at incredible speed after the uprising. At the same time, India delayed in giving comprehensive advance warning of excessive rainfall and floods. This is a breach of previous commitments and agreements.

Transboundary river dictatorship

In 2005, when we identified the haor problem as a transboundary crisis, there wasn't a large enough movement on this issue. People in general opposed the Farakka barrage, there were expectations regarding sharing Teesta's water, and some were against the Tipaimukh dam.

I tried to understand the transboundary crisis by visiting the common river-basin towns of Bangladesh and Northeast India. Additionally, I have regularly written about the crises in downstream Bangladesh due to the construction of large dams upstream, hydropower projects, roads, bridges, deforestation, and multinational mining. In 20 long years, I haven't found anyone who started "anti-India" protests by bringing up floods, till now.

The National River Conservation Commission listed 1,008 rivers in the book Bangladesh Nod-Nodir Shonga o Shonkha, published in 2023. The Water Development Board has divided the country's rivers into 17 hydrological regions and identified 57 rivers as common transboundary rivers. Of these, 54 rivers originate in India and three in Myanmar. However, many more transboundary rivers like Mahadeo or Ranganadi are still out of the list. In almost every river, India has built dams, hydroelectric projects or structures, or blocked the flow of inter-state rivers through some development project or encroachment and pollution. This transboundary dictatorship is endangering not only downstream Bangladesh but also upstream people's lives and wildlife.

This dictatorship is contrary to international agreements and commitments on transboundary river management. The Bangladesh-India Joint River Commission, formed in 1972, has not yet taken all the necessary decisions surrounding the inter-state rivers. As per the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty, both India and Bangladesh are responsible for equitable and transparent management of the river. According to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), states cannot carry out activities that endanger the biodiversity of neighbouring countries. In the 38th meeting of the Joint River Commission held in 2022, it was decided that India would inform Bangladesh about floods at the right time. As we have seen, people did not have ample opportunity to take preparation for saving lives and property because the authorities concerned failed to inform them on time.

We witnessed similar floods recently in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Bandarban and even in Dubai. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN

Flood trauma and water justice

A state's one-sided, authoritarian stance on inter-state rivers inflicts severe flood-trauma on the people of other states. At the same time, water retention and control from upstream create public discontent in downstream townships. And the narrative to fight for river-democracy and water justice gains momentum.

In 2019, the High Court ruled that rivers are living entities. But both the state of Bangladesh and India's neoliberal system do not treat rivers as living entities. Both states chop up rivers, control them by force, and engage in plundering. Although Bangladeshis marched against Farakka barrage, the state of Bangladesh supported the Kaptai dam, which displaced one lakh people from their native land, submerging homesteads and farmland. Forget the upstream, the downstream is also being butchered, as Bangladesh has also imprisoned rivers through barrages, dams, encroachment, and pollution.

While there is debate over the release of excess water stored in reservoirs, such incidents are taking place on a smaller scale right inside the country. The rubber dams built on Sukh river in Thakurgaon or Khasiamara in Sunamganj disadvantages the villagers living both upstream and downstream by trapping water in dry season or releasing it in monsoon.

There are many more examples of such injustice. In 1985, Bangladesh built a dam on Feni river. In 2021, the Maitri Bridge built by India on Feni was inaugurated. Meanwhile, India also constructed the Dumboor dam on Gomati river, which is dangerous, evident by its collapse during the recent floods. All this while, in the name of sand trade, Gomati has been mutilated in Bangladesh.

All these events profess our destructive development philosophy centring rivers. Neither state has yet stood for the free flow of waterbodies. So, it is important to present this philosophy to demand water justice in joint river management. Citizens should urge that all dams and structures be removed from upstream and downstream of transboundary rivers. Water's essence is to flow from top to bottom, from upstream to downstream, without any hindrance from the powers that be.

Pavel Partha, an ecology and biodiversity conservation researcher, is director at Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK).​

 

[Saif]

Together, they work tirelessly to repair a dyke

A breach in the Manu River embankment in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila has led to widespread flooding, submerging over 35 villages and causing significant damage to crop fields, houses, and roads.

www.thedailystar.net

Together, they work tirelessly to repair a dyke
A breach in the embankment has flooded over 35 villages in Sylhet

A breach in the Manu River embankment in Moulvibazar's Kulaura upazila has led to widespread flooding, submerging over 35 villages and causing significant damage to crop fields, houses, and roads.

The breach, which occurred on August 20, has left the region reeling as floodwaters continue to inundate the area.

The damage was particularly severe in the villages of Belartal, Alinagar, and Dhalia, where sections of the embankment gave way due to persistent rainfall and water flow from across the border.

Local residents and officials have pointed fingers at the Bangladesh Water Development Board, accusing it of using substandard materials in constructing the embankment, leading to its collapse.

Despite these challenges, the story has taken a hopeful turn as hundreds of local residents, students, and social organisations have come together to repair the damaged embankment themselves.

"The Manu river's breach has devastated our community, but we're not waiting for government aid. We've taken matters into our own hands," said Umar Ali, a student involved in the repairs.

Ali and other local youths were among the first to respond, quickly filling the breach with sandbags.

Soon after, they were joined by former UP member Abbas Ali, social activist Dr Monirul Islam Sohag, and other villagers.

The repair effort, which began on the night of August 22, has become a community-wide endeavour.

Men, women, and children have been working side by side, filling sacks with soil and stacking them to rebuild the embankment.

The scene is one of determination and unity, with villagers refusing to let the floodwaters defeat them.

"We've been working since dawn, every day, to protect our homes and crops," said Dr Sohag, who also contributed Tk 1 lakh to support the effort.

"Many of the embankments in this area are unstable, and we're doing everything we can to safeguard our land," he added.

Local youth Yasin Ali voiced frustration over unfulfilled promises by public representatives to build a permanent embankment, but he praised the community's spirit.

"The people here are incredible. They've come together to do what needs to be done. It's inspiring to see," said Yasin.

Abbas Ali echoed these sentiments, noting that while the situation is dire, the collective effort has brought the community closer together.

"We've been working at great personal risk, but it's worth it to protect our neighbours and our homes," he said.​

 

[Saif]

United in Crisis: People’s resilient response to devastating floods

The ongoing floods in Bangladesh have left many rural communities devastated. Children and women are among the most vulnerable in this crisis. Every time a natural calamity strikes, we triumph through our resilient life forces. People from all walks of life rise to the occasion and stand beside...

www.thedailystar.net

United in Crisis: People’s resilient response to devastating floods

The ongoing floods in Bangladesh have left many rural communities devastated. Children and women are among the most vulnerable in this crisis. Every time a natural calamity strikes, we triumph through our resilient life forces. People from all walks of life rise to the occasion and stand beside our fellow people who are in distress. All our small efforts from general individuals and charity organisations add up to building a substantial relief operation that complements efforts by the government.

Faiza Ahmed, Creative head of Manas and Shanchayita, is raising funds to provide essential items like food, powdered milk, vitamin C, supplements, clothing, mosquito nets, bedsheets, toys, and blankets for young victims. There are many such general people like her, who are trying to collect contributions, no matter how small, to make a significant difference in a child's life during this difficult time.

The Rizq Project, is another such effort, helping people in the worst-affected areas in Parshuram, Feni Sadar, Sonagazi, and Chagalnaiya, by working with local volunteers involved in rescue and food relief operations. Also, in Mirsharai, where volunteers from neighbouring Sitakunda are helping out. Soup kitchens, catering to people who have sought shelter on higher grounds, are a very important part of the relief programme and The Rizq Project has mobilised funds to support ongoing relief efforts by the SAJIDA Foundation in Dhaka and Ghashful bd in Chattogram.

"Geology and earth sciences are my passions, so, naturally, I'm very inclined towards worldwide weather-related phenomena. The night before the waters from upstream started descending and engulfing the flat lands of Bangladesh, I was monitoring the rain using Bing Maps, a free app that anyone can install. So, my question is, if a novice can forecast, where were our concerned personnel in charge of this?" says Shafin Ahmed of The Rizq Project, adding that using social media platforms was most effective in quickly organising funds.

SAJIDA Foundation is providing emergency relief to thousands of families affected, prioritising the safety of the elderly, pregnant women, and children, and transporting them to safe, dry locations.

The Azimur Rokia Rahman Trust and Community Resource Development Centre (CRDC), in collaboration with multiple volunteering teams and individuals who have generously contributed to the relief efforts, have been able to support the 5,000 families in remote areas of Baghaichari Upazilla in Rangamati district. The Bangladesh Marma Students Council-BMSC, Rangamati branch is volunteering to deliver essential supplies like food, clothes, and sanitary napkins to this severely flood-affected area. However, it takes around four to five hours to reach the destination by boat.

There are many livestock animals stranded in the flood waters. The Animal Welfare Team of Dhaka University is requesting the rescue operation team to look out for these unfortunate domestic animals. Their request on their official Facebook page to collect donations for animals, generated around Tk 78,304 and counting to buy fodder for cows, goats, poultry feed, as well as cat and dog food.

In a rare gesture, The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been instructed to supply free diesel to keep network towers operational in flood-affected areas in Feni, according to a press release, reported in The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Why did India open the Dumbur Dam?

Due to excessive precipitation, India finally opened the Dam of Dumbur hydroelectric project on Tripura's Gumti River after 31 years. Most people claimed this was the cause of Bangladesh's severe flooding. Severe flooding occurred in Feni as a result of floodwaters entering from upstream due to the

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Why did India open the Dumbur Dam?
Jarin Tasnim Ohi
Published :
Aug 27, 2024 14:37
Updated :
Aug 27, 2024 14:37

Due to excessive precipitation, India finally opened the Dam of Dumbur hydroelectric project on Tripura's Gumti River after 31 years. Most people claimed this was the cause of Bangladesh's severe flooding. Severe flooding occurred in Feni as a result of floodwaters entering from upstream due to the heavy rainfall. Severe flooding occurred in Bangladesh's northeast just two months ago, and it is currently happening in the southeast.

The distinction between embankments and dams is frequently unclear to the general public. In order to store water, dams are built across rivers, and barriers are built to prevent overflow.

We also have a dam in Chittagong across Kaptai that is similar to the Dumbur dam. When the monsoon arrives, water is poured into the dams, and the more water that is retained, the more energy is generated.

Because this dam prevents flooding and produces hydropower, Cumilla has not experienced any flooding in about 30 years. As a result, there were no floods in the downstream regions of Tripura and Cumilla for a while. A large portion of Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Habiganj, and Moulavibazar, as well as some regions of Brahmanbaria and Chattogram, have been drowned underwater due to the flood.

As per reports, more than three million people are left stuck in eight districts that have experienced flooding, with Feni and Noakhali being the districts that have been most affected.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied that the floods in Bangladesh were brought on by the discharge of water from an Indian dam on the Gumti River in Tripura, stating in a national newspaper that "That has not caused the flood situation in Eastern Bangladesh."

Tripura-based media outlets Borak Times and Tripura Times reported that the authorities reopened the sluice gates of Dumbur Reservoir after nearly 31 years. Local officials claimed that the reason the sluice gate was opened earlier was because they were concerned about the worst-case scenario in the event that the dam collapsed.

Experts assert that because the dam is located in the Gomti river basin, floods cannot occur in the Feni, Noakhali, or Chittagong hill regions. The naturally occurring depression in the Bay of Bengal is what caused the 300 mm of downpours that fell on Tripura.

India claims that Bangladesh nearly obtains 40MW of power from this system through a low-lying, power-generating dam that is about 30 meters high.

Since Tripura and the surrounding regions of Bangladesh have been experiencing days-long heavy rain, automated releases have been seen in case of an overflow.

The three upazilas in the north of Feni, Phulgazi, Parashuram, and Chagalnaya, have their streets and homes swamped in water. Sadar Upazila, Sonagazi, too, had numerous flooded villages.

The water levels in the rivers Muhuri, Kahua, and Ceylonia are 100 cm above the border. The local government and a number of volunteer groups have already started providing flood victims with relief aid and financial assistance.​

 

[Saif]

Floods upend lives of thousands

The extent of devastation from the floods is becoming visible as the waters are receding.

www.thedailystar.net

Floods upend lives of thousands
Extent of damage getting clear as water starts receding in many areas

Standing in floodwaters, Hosne Ara Begum, 60, hangs wet clothes out to dry in Gopal union under Feni’s Chhagalnaiya upazila. Just like many of her neighbours, she returned home yesterday after a week as the flood water was receding. Photo: Rajib Raihan

The extent of the devastation from the floods is becoming visible as the waters are receding.

Thousands of homes have been washed away and many small businesses are destroyed.

Mohammad Mostafa, 66, a resident of Chhagalnaiya, Feni, said his paddy field on two and a half acres and stored rice were ruined.

"I have my three cows with me on the street. They are hungry too. I'm borrowing money to buy fodder for the cows."— Abul Kalam, a farmer in Lakshmipur
"I don't know what we will eat when the relief effort stops," he said.

In Chhagalnaiya, hundreds of locals were running after trucks carrying relief materials yesterday.

Officials said around 80 percent of the upazila was inundated.

Due to heavy rain, the level of water increased in eight upazilas of Noakhali yesterday, reports our correspondent there.

In Lakshmipur, officials said 90 percent of the district was still flooded and over 8 lakh people were marooned.

Families, including the elderly, women and children, have been living on the sides of roads in the district.

Abul Kalam, a 62-year-old farmer of Char Kelakopa area, said he had been sleeping on a plastic sheet under the open sky for a week. There was three-feet-deep water in his hut.

"Never in my life have I seen a flood lasting this long," he said.

Around 200 others were seen in similar conditions in the area.

"I have my three cows with me. They are hungry too. We are surviving on people's handouts," he said.

In Cumilla, the level of floodwater is falling along the Gumti river.

Abdul Latif, superintendent engineer at Cumilla East Water Development Board, said the river is flowing 22cm below the danger level. But as the embankment is broken, villages are still getting flooded in Burichang and Brahmmanpara upazilas.

The disaster management ministry announced that the flood situation will improve soon.

Water levels in all rivers are falling, and heavy rain is not likely, Additional Secretary KM Ali Reza told a press briefing.

Over 58 lakh people in 11 districts were affected by the floods. The disaster has so far claimed 31 lives.

Twelve people drowned in Cumilla, six in Noakhali, two in Feni, five in Chattogram, three in Cox's Bazar, and one each in Khagrachhari, Brahmanbaria, and Lakshmipur. Two people remain missing in Moulvibazar.

The government has opened 4,003 shelters, providing refuge to over 5.4 lakh people.​

 

[Saif]

Post-flood recovery will be challenging

Flood leaves victims with a whole new set of problems

www.thedailystar.net

Post-flood recovery will be challenging
Flood leaves victims with a whole new set of problems

VISUAL: STAR

As floodwaters slowly begin to recede, a grim reality is emerging across the 73 upazilas of 11 districts that have been affected over the last 10 days or so. The flood has left behind a vast trail of destruction—broken homes, crumbling roads, collapsed bridges, toppled electric poles, public facilities lying in ruins. The scars of the disaster are evident everywhere. Many have returned to their homes, or what's left of them, while others, whose villages are still under water, remain in the shelters. An uncertain future awaits them all. The thought of rebuilding their lives from the ground up can be daunting, yet this is what they must prepare for.

According to an estimate, at least 52 people have died in the flood. The human toll, tragic as it is, is just one component of the widespread devastation caused by it as survivors now must focus on the painful process of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction, with little help guaranteed. Many have lost their homes, livestock, and other belongings, and will need financial and institutional support to get back on their feet. A big part of the recovery also involves regaining livelihoods, especially for farmers, fishers, and other small earners. The government and private donors must ensure steady provision of not just food and clothes but also cash support, at least until some recovery is achieved. Another focus area is their health needs. Many in flood-affected areas are suffering from waterborne diseases including diarrhoea, skin infections, cold-fever, etc. So, ensuring adequate medical care is vital.

Unfortunately, this is proving to be difficult because of the flooding of many health facilities, including the 250-bed Feni General Hospital, that left them severely compromised. The ministry of disaster management and relief has reportedly deployed 619 medical teams across 11 districts. But ensuring the full resumption of local health complexes is crucial for uninterrupted care. There are many other areas of rebuilding and reconstruction that the government also needs to focus on urgently. While we are yet to know the full extent of the damage caused by the flood, initial estimates are quite alarming: 6,542 kilometres of roads damaged, and 1,066 bridges and culverts ruined. Highways in affected regions are in no better shape. Many utility structures have been destroyed. There has been widespread littering, with piles of garbage seen in many areas.

All these issues will require prompt and proper interventions. We are told that rescue and relief activities have been hampered because of coordination problems, despite an overwhelming response from people to support flood-hit communities. This has been exacerbated by the ongoing administrative chaos caused by transfers and other issues. The absence of upazila chairmen and other public representatives is also causing problems and will likely continue to do so for some more time. This is all the more reason why the government must double down on ongoing efforts, ensuring full cooperation of all relevant state agencies and officials, so that flood-affected communities have an easier go of it going forward. It must repair and resume all public facilities without delay, and must help the affected in every way it can.​

 

[Saif]

Flood: Death toll climbs to 52, over 5.4 million people affected

The death toll from the recent flood in 11 districts has climbed to 52 with 21 more deaths reported in Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali and Moulvibazar districts till Thursday, according to the report of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.

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Flood: Death toll climbs to 52, over 5.4 million people affected
UNBDhaka
Published: 29 Aug 2024, 16: 16

File Photo UNB file photo

The death toll from the recent flood in 11 districts has climbed to 52 with 21 more deaths reported in Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali and Moulvibazar districts till Thursday, according to the report of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.

Among the deceased, 14 people died in Cumilla, six in Chattogram, 17 in Feni, eight in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur districts respectively.

Besides, a total of 1,072,579 families have been stranded in 68 upazilas of 11 flood-hit districts--Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox’s Bazar.

Moreover, as many as 5,480,463 people have been affected in 492 municipalities or unions of the 11 districts. One people still remain missing in Moulvibazar district.

Meanwhile, at least 502,501 people have taken shelter in 3,403 shelter centres while 36,448 domestic animals were kept there, according to data from the ministry. A total of 595 medical teams are providing medical services in the flood affected areas.

So far, a sum of Tk 45.2 million (Tk 4.52 crore) has been allocated in the flood-stricken districts while 20,650 tonnes of rice, 15,000 pieces of dry foods or other foods and baby foods and fodder worth Tk 3.5 million (Tk 35 lakh) each were allocated, said the ministry.​

 

[Saif]

As floodwater recedes, diseases spread

Hospitals in Feni and Noakhali are struggling to tackle a wave of patients with floodwater receding and water-borne diseases spreading in the affected areas while the death toll from the disaster has increased to 59.

www.thedailystar.net

As floodwater recedes, diseases spread
Hospitals in Feni, Noakhali struggling to cope with flow of patients; flood death toll now 59

Sitting on a makeshift platform in front of her home, Hosne Ara cooks on a clay stove yesterday as her home is flooded in Shakchile village of Cumilla’s Monoharganj upazila. Although floodwaters have started receding in the upazila, residents in the low-laying areas are still in difficulties. Photo: Nahid Mazhar

Hospitals in Feni and Noakhali are struggling to tackle a wave of patients with floodwater receding and water-borne diseases spreading in the affected areas while the death toll from the disaster has increased to 59.

In Feni's Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex, patients were lying on the floor, balcony and staircases on Friday afternoon. The number of patients at the 50-bed government facility increased to 96 by evening.

Chhagalnaiya Upazila Health Complex, which has the same number of beds, had 126 patients on Saturday morning.

Nusrat Jahan, an 11-year-old girl from Matiganj village, had been receiving treatment at the Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex since Wednesday night.

"We took shelter in a neighbour's house as the water entered my home," her mother Laila Akhtar said.

"As there was no clean water there, the girl drank the water stored in the tank. Since then, she has been vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea," said Laila.

"The hospital was full of patients when we came here. A ward-boy managed a place with a mattress on the floor for her."

Among the patients admitted to the health complex, 80 percent from the flood-hit areas caught water-borne diseases, said Medical Officer Dr Arnab Mallick.

In Naokhali, diarrhoea is spreading rapidly among the flood-hit people.

Noakhali General Hospital's Diarrhea Ward, which can accommodate only 16 people, was treating 280 patients yesterday evening.

"We were compelled to drink floodwater as our house and tubewell were submerged for around three weeks. Now my child is suffering from diarrhoea," said Sajeda Akhter Noor of Babunagar villager in the district's Begumganj Upazila. Her four-month-old baby had been receiving treatment at the hospital since Thursday, she told The Daily Star yesterday.

Many patients alleged mismanagement at the hospital.

"I was admitted to the hospital on Friday morning. But no doctor came to visit me until now," Ayesha Akhter, 25, of Herangirpole area under Noakhali Sadar Upazila, told this newspaper on Friday evening.

The hospital's Registrar Md Emran Hossain, however, denied the allegation and said a doctor served the patients throughout the day on Friday.

As many as 519 medical teams were working in the 11 flood-hit districts, according to the disaster management and relief ministry.

The ministry said yesterday that the death toll from the floods increased by five to 59, including six women and 12 children, in nine districts while the number of people affected by the flooding in 11 districts was over 54.57 lakh.

Of the deceased, 23 people died in Feni, 14 in Cumilla, nine in Noakhlai, six in Chattogram, three in Cox's Bazar, and one each in Moulvibazar, Lakshmipur, Brahmanbaria and Khagrachhari, according to the ministry's report.

Around 7 lakh people were still marooned, the report said.

The government's Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre yesterday forecast that all the major rivers of the country were flowing below the danger level.

Unicef on Friday said over 20 lakh children in eastern Bangladesh were at risk as floods swept through homes, schools and villages.

[Our correspondents from Chattogram and Noakhali contributed to the report]​