Natural disasters

Photo: AFP

Unfortunately this poor country is probably the most disaster prone in the world. Rapid growth in population and a slow rate of growth of the economy have forced a substantial part of the ever increasing population to settle in areas too risky for human habitation. A large number of new settlements in coastal areas, in char lands and old settlements situated near oscillating rivers are all in constant threat of being swept away by cyclones and tidal surges and by riverbank erosion.
The location of Bangladesh at the head of the funnel shaped Bay of Bengal makes it vulnerable to cyclones and super cyclones that hit the coastal areas of the country accompanied by tidal surge. Deep depressions forming in the Bay Bengal often transform into cyclonic storms and lash the coastal areas of Bangladesh and adjoining Indian states. Cyclones lashing low lying islands and coastal areas lead to immense loss of life, disrupt transport and communication network, destroy houses and uproot trees. There is a clear link between poverty and disaster impacts. The coastal part of our country is more vulnerable and density of population is high there and most of the people are poor. They are not aware of their responsibilities in pre-disaster, during-disaster and post-disaster periods.
So, the govt should take a realistic approach to mitigating the impacts of the disasters.