Flooding in Bangladesh.

> Silt, deposited at the mouth of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, has formed a large delta. This eventually created many flat islands. They attracted large numbers of farmers for rice growing. Further deposition of silt blocks the main channels and increases the flood risk by raising the beds of the rivers. Flooding is most likely to occur in late summer following the seasonal monsoon rains.

> Water is pushed northwards by tropical cyclones up the Bay of Bengal. Silt deposits cause the Bay of Bengal to become narrower and the sea shallower. The water builds up to form a storm surge. The total height of the water can reach 8 metres. The wall of water sweeps over the flat, defenceless islands of the delta, carrying away the flimsy buildings and any life-form in its path. Local inhabitants cannot find land high enough upon which to escape the rising water.

> The effects of global warming will cause the sea levels to rise. For every few centimetres that sea-level rises, the more frequent and serious will flooding be along the coast of Bangladesh.

Three major floods in the past have all devastated Bangladesh.

May 1985

> Claimed the lives of 40,000 people.

> 180 km/hour winds.

> Threat of typhoid and cholera.

> Fresh water contaminated.

September 1988

> The heaviest monsoon rains recorded.

> 2400 people dead and 25 million homeless.

> 80 per cent of the country was, at one time, at least 1 metre deep in floodwater.

> Dhaka airport closed for 5 days.

> Water supply contaminated.

> Hospitals filled with cases of dysentery, diarrhoea and cholera.

> The governments made a worldwide appeal for aid.

April 1991

> Winds of 225km/hour and waves 7 metres high.

> Over 150,000 people were drowned.

> 500,000 cattle drowned.

> People were faced with food shortages.

Flood banks or dams could be built to prevent flooding in Bangladesh, but that would be too expensive. There are 2 other main solutions:

. Flooding should be allowed as it is essential for agiculture and fishing. Extremes be controlled through the use of technology.

2. Flood Action Plan (FAP - 1990). Involves setting up planning groups to study and monitor local river processes, and the construction of huge flood banks. However, the scheme has been provoked from groups concerned about the cost and potential social and environmental implications.

I think number (1) should be used as the flooding is natural, and the fact it would be controlled makes a better solution so it does cause problems for the local people.

Flooding in Bangladesh