Photo: AFP

Bangladesh has experienced some of the worst climatic changes, bringing sufferings to millions of people. The media continue to report on the aftermath of the cyclone SIDR which razed human settlements and infrastructure to the ground along the coastal districts, leaving a trail of destruction along its path.
Rapid global warming has caused fundamental changes to our climate. No country and people know this better than Bangladesh, where millions of people are already suffering. Sudden, severe and catastrophic floods are taking place more frequently owing to increased rainfall in the monsoon. Over the last ten years, Bangladesh was ravaged by floods of catastrophic proportion in 1998, 2004 and 2007. Heavy downpour in short spells has resulted in landslide. Cold spells claim human lives and damage crops. Droughts often affect even coastal districts. Bad weather makes the coastal waters risky for fishing. Damage and losses due to climatic extremes like floods, cyclones, tornados, and droughts are colossal.
These are early signs of global warming effects. Sea level rise in the coming decades will create over 25 million climate refugees. This is larger than entire populations of many countries.
Bangladesh must move on in its pursuit to develop and thrive as a nation, taking into account its vulnerability, susceptibility and capacity to manage climate risks and adaptation. In this respect, the government has taken some bold steps to prepare and respond to the challenge. To help the country and its people build necessary capacity and resilience, regional and international cooperation is essential. Major rivers that draw freshwater and sediment from upstream basin to the Bay of Bengal going through Bangladesh originate in neighbouring countries and water flow during both summer and dry periods is critical for agriculture and food and drinking water security. Collective actions are necessary now to understand the risks and take action. International efforts in planning responses to climate change must be on to keep the situation under control. The case of Bangladesh, one of the first and major victims of human induced global warming and climate changes, should be taken seriously and addressed collectively.