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INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY BANGLADESH

Assignment on Dreaming of Green City Dhaka

& Natural disaster and its impact on Bangladesh

Introduction to Environmental Science ENV: 101 Section: 01 Submitted To: Ms. Shahima Islam Lecturer, School of Environmental Science and Management Submitted By: MASUD PARVEZ RANA ID: 1030155 MD. NAHID PARVEZ ID: 1130442 MD. MARUF CHOWDHURY ID: 1020758 MD.NAZMUL HASAN SARDAR ID: 1130307 TANVIR AHMED ID: 1030395

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DREAMING OF GREEN CITY DHAKA INTRODUCTION: The development of urban green structures can be an important contributor to sustainable urban development in terms of improving the quality of life and environment for current urban populations. The preservation of vegetated areas, or green spaces, and creating and expanding more green space in and around the cities can improve the quality of life by providing people with natural settings for leisure and recreation, and by safeguarding the quality of precious life-giving resources. Green areas also have the potential for affording citizens the opportunity to get direct economic benefits through urban agriculture or forestry. The concept of dreaming a green city is particularly a promising approach to urban green space planning and environment. Dhaka, the capital and the most populated city of Bangladesh is now a member of the “mega city” family of the world. Due to rapid and unplanned urbanization commercial development, along with population pressure, the overall city environment is being worsened seriously day by day. But Dhaka City was once known for its serenity, beautiful parks, clean roads and lush greenery, and the places within the present Dhaka city boundary were forested, but at present those tree cover are almost transformed to urban habitats to accommodate excessive population due to high rate of rural–urban migration. In addition, industrialization in the urban fringe areas and transformation of different land use within the city as well as the surrounding urban fringes caused to the depletion of existing tree covers so rapidly during the last half century. The depletion process of green resources got impetus, as the government had no long term planning to keep city green except establishment of few parks and road side plantation under the city beautification program. In some instances, government acted as the clearing agent of the greeneries. On the other hand, people in general are not properly aware of the importance of tree covers’ existence in and around their living premises. Moreover, the absence of plantation process of trees in the past sites is also another important reason to remain the diminishing state of the existing tree cover in the city. Now a day, very few green spots exist within city boundary as the reminiscence of past green glory. Area description: Dhaka City: Dhaka city is located almost the central part of Bangladesh under the Dhaka District. Geographically the city is situated between 23°42' and 23°54' north latitudes and 90°20' and 90°28' east longitudes (Map 1.1). Dhaka mega city, consists of seven principal thanas — Dhanmondi, Kotwali, Motijheel, Paltan, Ramna, Mohammadpur, Sutrapur, Tejgaon — and 14 auxiliary thanas — Gulshan, Lalbagh, Mirpur, Pallabi, Sabujbagh, Dhaka Cantonment, Demra, Hazaribagh, Shyampur, Badda, Kafrul, Kamrangir char, Khilgaon and Uttara. In total the city has 130 wards and 725 mohallas. It comprises Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and five adjacent municipal areas i.e. Savar, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Kadamrasul and Tongi (BBS, 1991).The area of Dhaka mega city is 1,353 km² of which DCC occupies 276 km²(BBS, 2001). Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) has a Strategic Planning Zone-wise definition of Dhaka city which currently consists of total 26 zones of which 19 may cover Dhaka Statistical Metropolitan Area.

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Map 1.1: Location of the project area. Source: www. dhakadailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/06/maps-dha... According to United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) the total population of Dhaka mega city is now over 12.3 million of which population of DCC is about 8.4 million. The population is growing by an estimated 4.2% per annum, one of the highest rates amongst Asian cities. The continuing growth reflects ongoing migration from rural areas to the Dhaka urban region, which accounted for 60% of the city's growth. The city's population is being also growing with the expansion of city boundaries. The population density of DCC is 19,286 per km² which is more than double of the mega city average of 7,918 per km² (BBS, 2001).

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Greeneries in Dhaka City: Generally, the green areas within the Dhaka city and its periphery broadly part of the open space. According to the statistics of Sustainable Development Networking Program, Bangladesh (SDNPBD), 2005, the open space in Dhaka city is accounted only 21.573 % of its total area. As agriculture is most dominant activities in Bangladesh, it comprises the highest proportion of open spaces that was about 12.12%. That’s why agriculture is not a part of green resources of Dhaka city. Thus, green resources in point of view of Greeing in Dhaka city comprise: *Trees along the streets, paved paths in commercial and residential areas, car parks etc. *Parks inside the town used for recreational purposes and generally consisting of different areas *Public and private Garden, graveyard, nursery, zoo, spots fields etc. *Other types of green areas may be within public or private areas. *Larger green areas or National Parks outside the city but within the periphery, with some recreational use, mainly visited during holidays and weekends. Therefore, green resources can be defined as trees or tree stands within the legal boundaries of DCC with the purpose of providing amenities for the population; namely shelter, recreation, landscaping, beauty etc. and additionally, both public and privately own large green areas, woodlots, social or community forest areas in the urban areas of DCC for recreation and mostly timber, fuel wood and other products purposes. Map 2.2 show the major green areas in DCC and vegetation covers in the outskirts of Dhaka city respectively.

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Map 2.1: Green areas in Dhaka city. Source: Map Google earth image. Map 2.1 excludes privately owned green areas, road side, commercial or residential areas trees or trees stands and wetlands vegetation cover as there is no exact area wise statistics for the percentage of trees in the city and also no area wise planning for tree plantation. It can be seen that the northern side of the city has very few green areas. Most of the parks are exist in the

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middle and south western parts of the city. The urbanization of Dhaka started from these area and now is recognized old part of Dhaka. When the British ruled in Dhaka, they established many parks and gardens in Ramna, Dhanmondi and Kotwali areas. These parks are yet reflecting the green glory of Dhaka. Most popular parks like Ramna Udyan (Ramna Park) Suhrawardy Udyan (Suhrawardy Udyan Park) and Dhaka University campus, Osmani Udyan, Gulistan Park are the most important green spaces in this area. Besides, some tourist spots such as National Parliament Building, Chandrima Park, Bahadur Sah Park, Botanic garden and Zoo and some educational institutes, Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka Cantonment etc. which can be considered as important urban green areas located at different part of the city. Moreover, the low lying areas of Dhaka city in the east and western side have some green spaces which are mainly comprise water tolerant trees.

Map 2.2: Green areas in outskirts of Dhaka city. Source: Center for satellite based Crisis information, 2004

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Green areas in the outskirts of Dhaka city are more prominent than the DCC area (Map 2.2). The surrounding areas like Savar upazila, Sonargong upazila, Gazipur and Manikganj districts are mostly green as these areas are still in transition from rural to urban. Woodlots, social or community forest area, homestead gardening, roadside trees are major forms of green resources of these areas. In addition, Bahwal National Park is located in Gazipur, only km far away from Dhaka city. It is dominated by Sal trees, which is popularly known as Sal forest. PROBLEMS, OPPORTUNITES AND CHALLENGES OF DREAMING OF GREEN CITY DHAKA : Population and development pressure: Dhaka city is becoming faded with rapid expulsion of the trees through introducing different types of land uses as responding to rapid urbanization. As city’s population is increasing tremendously, land becomes more extreme to accommodate excessive population. Only Dhaka city accounts about 38% of the total urban population of Bangladesh. The growth rate of the population during 1974-2000 was 6.9% (UN, 1998). There is no city in the world, which has experienced such a high growth rate in population during this period. The United Nations (1999) describes the rapid population growth of this city as ‘exceptional’. The growth rate of Dhaka City’s population will also continue to remain high and it is expected to grow at a 3.6% annual growth rate during 2000-2015 and reach a total population of 21.1 million in 2015. Table 3.1 shows the population and areas changes in Dhaka city during 1901-2001. For accommodate the huge population, the city now includes the surrounding areas of Gazirpur, Savar, Narayangong, Bandar thanas (BBS, 1997). Understandably, these additional people have created tremendous strain on the urban utility services and other amenities of urban life. This has resulted in an adverse effect on the urban environment and valuable green area has been transformed into the built-up area. The demand of satisfying the basic needs takes precedence rather than greening activities. Most of the city authorities are busy most of the time to give service facilities to the people rather than think about green resources. Therefore, it can be said that population pressure is the main constrain in future greening process in Dhaka city. Transformation of land use: Due to population pressure, the city has been expanded towards north and eastern direction and rapidly built up. With this spatial development of the city, wide roads and other paved areas replaced the unpaved areas, natural depressions, and agricultural land. In many cases, open areas and vegetated areas were filled up for development works not in any planned manner. No solemn effort at reclaiming land under a well-planned scheme to confer the city a homogenous and cohesive growth is evidenced. Most alarming scenario found is the open space reduction. In 1982, the total open spaces including the agricultural areas accounted about 60.69 percent (Ministry of Land, 1982) of the total land area of Dhaka mega city, where as it was only 21.57 percent in 2005 (SDNPBD, 2005). Loss of key green resources: During the last 30 years, the forest areas near the Dhaka city have been decreased remarkably. Population pressure is the main underlying cause of forest depletion. Attitude to increase cultivable areas by clearing out vegetation covers has the detrimental effects on green resources

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in and around Dhaka city. Moreover, fire-wood collection by the increase poor populace for cooking and dependency on forest products for various purposes exerted huge pressure on the green resources. Besides, the ways in which public authorities develops, assigns land creates conflicts of interest. On the other hand, when the authority approves non-designated use to existing land it comes in contradiction with its own roles; for example, one of the largest open spaces in Dhaka, Suhrawardy Udyan, no longer remains a park as more than a half of the area was taken under clear cutting of tree for an unfinished project of monuments of the war of independence. Recently government has taken another decision to handover 25 acre area of this park to a private club for developing a golf course for their club members. It has been seriously criticized by the experts and environmentalists for such improper decision to transform large public green areas used by the city dwellers to private spots field. This is only one example is presented here, indeed, a number of examples exist on green areas depletions in Dhaka city.

Photograph: Poor condition of roadside trees due to wrong selection of tree species. The selection of trees for parks, roadside, residential areas is neither free from debate related on depletion of green areas within the city. Most of the road sides, plants with blooming flowers are planted along with different types of herbs and grasses. But the flowers cannot survive the strains of heat from exhaust pipes of the vehicles and the poisonous gases emitted. Having gathered much dust on them the flowers soon loss their beauty and wilted. The watering of the plants is also a matter of concern. Now fresh water from the WASA amounting to thousands of gallons is used to irrigate the plants on the roads. It causes a heavy taxation on fresh water. In this backdrop, use of surface water was suggested but for reasons unknown it could not be incorporated into the present plan. Plants along the streets are supposed to be a permanent feature of the city life. But the use of fresh water for irrigation, which is likely to aggravate the existing

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water crisis, cannot go for an indefinite period. Most of the playgrounds are in a poor condition due to the lack of maintenance by the DCC. Most of them are uneven having no grass. Dotted holes are also there in different parts of most of the playgrounds making them almost unusable. Some times trees are planted around the walkway and surrounding the playgrounds, but most of them are uprooted in the absence of monitoring by the authorities concerned. Lack of public awareness, education and research: Most people of Bangladesh are poor and illiterate. There is serious lacking of public awareness about the necessity and environmental, social and economic benefits of trees. Therefore, they don’t hesitate cut the trees and their poverty encourage them to do it. Not only the general public but also the Government Authority sometimes occupies the open spaces to save the cost of land acquisition for developments works. Education and research gap on urban greening are another problem for future greening activities. Opportunities for promoting Green Dhaka City: Nevertheless, the above mentioned problems, there are ample opportunities to promote Green Dhaka city, to some extent by following western Greening conceptual framework including the full complement of quality-of-life necessities, amenity space and ecological habitats for vegetation and wildlife. The time to start the putting of a hard brake on the unplanned growth of Dhaka was crossed long ago. The major opportunities for UPFG are presented below: Protection and maintenance of existing parks and other green areas: A continuous green structure is one of the main elements of an environmentally friendly city or town structure. At present, there are only 8 percent land of the total area of Dhaka city are urban forest which comprises different types of green area like parks, play ground, graveyards, nursery, etc. Statistics shows that one person can get only approximately 8 Sq. meter open space in Dhaka city, which is really inadequate for living in a city. If it is count the people living in illegally in the slum areas and floating people around the city then the distribution of open spaces will be less than this amount. Indeed, these small areas represent a source of vitality for city dwellers. Green in city’s built up areas should be considered the most effective, spatial, protective, healing, and decorative element. There is no alternative, at least, to keep up the Dhaka city in future without protecting the existing green areas. Establishment new small parks play grounds, garden in expanding areas of the City: DCC has taken initiative to expand its jurisdiction area for accommodating the everincreasing city population. RAJUK already prepared an Urban Area Plan 1995-2015 for Dhaka city in which they proposed to extent the city on north and eastern direction.Therefore, both DCC and RAJUK have taken the surrounding municipalities into their command areas. Savar, Karaniganj and some part of Narayanganj Municipalities now are under the DCC areas (Map 3.1). These areas can be taken into consideration for establishing new small parks, play grounds, botanical garden by governmental mainly the DCC planning policy. On the other hand, there are also some opportunities exits to promote green areas in residential and commercial premises in this area. As it is very difficult for DCC to ensure development activities like new housing, commercial centers etc. that’s why DCC has

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given stress on private sector real estate development. It is a recognized fact that the health of the Real Estate Development Sector is the barometer of the National economy. In Bangladesh Real Estate Business started in Dhaka in late seventies. During 1970s there were fewer than 5 companies engaged in this business. In 1988 there were 42 such developers working in Dhaka and now in 2004 there are about 250 companies engaged in this business (http://www.rehabhousing.com/search/siteSearchAction.do). Most of the real estate companies are carrying out their land development projects in the surrounding areas of DCC. And it is a positive sign that these housing companies have kept some provisions for green areas like small parks in the housing areas, green commercial premises. Though it is their business policy to attract the customer, ultimately it is contributing to establish some form in green areas.

Map 3.1: Present and future command area of DCC. Source: www. banglapedia.net/Maps/MD_0156.GIF

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In this context, DCC can enforce some bylaws for the housing and land developer companies that every company must have to allocate satisfactory amount of land for green and open areas. Encourage rooftop gardening activities: Rooftop gardens are man-made green spaces on the topmost levels of industrial, commercial, and residential structures. They may be designed to grow produce, provide play space, give shade and shelter, or simply be there as a living, green area (http://faculty1.coloradocollege.edu/~shall/ev421/joekurland.html). Rooftop gardens are a smart way to use the available city space. They add another dimension of green space to an urban scape without taking up an extensive area of land in densely populated places. Developing the gardens at the rooftops of houses can help city dwellers economically beneficial to have not only fresh fruit and vegetable but also fresh air to breath sign of relief. It will create nice surroundings in the area that would give them much pleasure and also improve city environment and healthy living. In some European countries such as Switzerland, bylaws have been approved that new buildings must be designed to relocate the green space covered by the building to their roofs. As the condition of crowded Dhaka city is beyond imagination, it is very had to find out new quality sites for tree plantation. Recently building infrastructure has been changed and within the built up areas most of the buildings are multistoried and high rise in nature. Therefore, city dwellers can take a simple and easy initiative to make all roof tops green by planting different trees (fruit trees, vegetables, etc.) or practice gardening. It is a positve that recently some environmental awareness raising voluntary organizations have taken initiatives to citizen involvement for increase roof top gardening. Already a society has been formed named Bangladesh Green Roof Movement. Jointly cooperated with Idcol a NGO, this society has taken a gardening project at the rooftops of 111 houses in the DCC area. This is a pioneer leading initiative, would be an inspiring example for the dwellers of the other part of the city to take such benefit. Another scheme has taken by the Dhaka Journalist Housing Cooperative Society. They planed to make all the roof of their housing society green by gardening.

Photograph: Roof top gardening in Dhaka city. Source: www.flickr.com/photos/trimplimit/.../in/set-

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Therefore, government should appreciate those initiatives and consider proper planning policy to motivate citizen of the Dhaka city for planting fruit plants and vegetable in their rooftops. Appropriate technical support and cooperation between different organizations might be explored for promoting and popularize roof gardening, an alternative ways of urban greening in Dhaka city. Strengthen city beautification programme and increase avenue plantation: The programme “Beautification of Dhaka City” was launched in 2004. This beautification work carried out under DCC with the help of public organizations. About 105 different sections of roads and street intersections were taken under beautification and maintenance until March 2008 (The New Nation, 2004). The organizations completed the beautification work at their own costs without any financial assistance from DCC. Also in accordance to the theme of the World Environment Day 2005 “Green Cities-Plan for the Planet!” the government was taken another initiative for the beautification and greening of Dhaka city through tree and flower plantation. Beside plantation of trees and flowering shrubs, water fountains and sculptures have been constructed at various intersections/ roads of the city. Some positive results of their efforts can be seen along the Airport Road, Sangsad Bhaban and various important intersections and parks and so far, the beautification drive has made a positive impact on the people of Dhaka. The living conditions in Dhaka city has improved considerably despite the high density of people. Both private and government organizations have to be given credit for their role in the beautification of the city. The past year has heralded a new look for Dhaka city which is now more aesthetically agreeable and environmentally sound. More efforts, continuing and strengthen such beautification activities and basic awareness programs can convert Dhaka from an urban jungle to a garden city once again. Apart form the city beautification programme, most of the avenue should be taken under huge tree plantation. At present, all most every avenue has some trees; proper maintenance with additional planting efforts should also be given for future greening process. Promote nursery: Around 1,200 big and small nurseries are currently operating in Dhaka, its outskirts and neighboring areas. About 500 of them are exclusively growers who sell the plants to others. The nurseries are providing employment for a huge number of people migrating from all over the country to the city in search of livelihood. New jobs like plant suppliers and caretakers have been created in offices and apartments buildings. Educated young people are joining the business. Plants in pots and floriculture are now a popular trade in Dhaka city. Though the trend started in 2005, the problem is that the nursery business has come a long way without any support from the government. Another important problem is that nurseries do not have any protection against natural calamities as most nurseries are developed out in the open with a small investment. When a calamity ruins the production, owners cannot get monetary support from any side. Therefore, promote nursery in outskirts including Gazipur, Savar and Ashulia, in every neighbourhood, could be a part for UPFG development in Dhaka city. It can, in one way, accelerate the greening process, in other way; provide economic benefits for the poor as one of the benefit of green Dhaka city.

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Improvement of green area Management: Adequate management system is essential to ensure sustainable Green city for long run. The management system will be the composition of operation; maintenance; remedy and replacement. The responsibility for management of green areas is rest with DCC. The authority should develop a routine preventative maintenance program for the green areas so that the improvements will provide a lasting benefit. Scheduling of activities, methods and equipment, staffing needs and any appropriate re-organization, whatever needs should take in this context. CONCLUSION: Well-planned and well managed green areas are essential for environmental and high quality of life for Dhaka city dwellers. The need to provide quality planting sites, and to guard against subsequent degradation and intrusion, are the most crucial aspects of urban greening planning in Dhaka city. Zoning can be very useful in this regard to select which area should be allowed what types of greenery in future. Increase the roadside and avenue plantation and encourage rooftop gardening are other suitable options to increase greenery. DCC taken city beautification programme should be also reinforced for aesthetic benefits of the city. During the last decade the city is being expanding in north and eastern direction. The Urban Area Plan 1995-2015 proposed by the RAJUK also kept provision to develop open space on the north eastern side. Recent experience shows that most of the land developer companies, mainly for housing and commercial area are spreading their development surrounding all sides of the built up parts of the city. RAJUK also extended its operation area taking under some part of surrounding municipalities. These newly developed areas may be very useful for establishment of new small parks, play grounds and to some extent, woodlands or woodlots. Housing company, commercial firms can also allocate satisfactory spaces for tree plantation in their premises. Since 1998 the strip plantation along roads, embankments, highways etc. in rural areas following the participatory mechanism in Bangladesh has got priority to governmental policy. This Greening program could be functional in the surrounding river, road side, railways around Dhaka city. Planting these areas with various forms of vegetation can prevent waste disposal, erosion, flood control and make them aesthetically more attractive and create more biodiversity. Indeed, this area can be regarded as greenways of Dhaka city in future. The growing urban populations in and around Dhaka, of whom majority are living below the poverty level, have an imperative need for the basic necessities of a reasonable quality of life, adequate food, shelter, potable water and jobs. A good portion of these needs can be provided through establishing green city. It can hold out opportunity for food production, plod for housing, fodder for livestock, protected watersheds for clean water, sound recreational environments and a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities for employment. Additionally, green areas provide citizens aesthetically pleasing work and home environments, opportunities for recreation and education as well. It may hope that Dhaka will be a green city where the rush to build does not stop the civilized and healthy need for trees and vegetation at every available nook and corner of the city, where buildings could be seen as pavilions in a garden. A well-planned participatory Greening program can thus secure a healthy sustainable future for the urban populations of Dhaka as well as other cities in Bangladesh.

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Natural disaster and its impact on Bangladesh Introduction: Natural disasters are defined as events (shocks) that are triggered by natural phenomena or natural hazards (such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods). Natural disasters have a huge impact on social and economic welfare. Policies to manage them need to be integrated and well grounded to the specificities of natural hazards as well as local capacities in terms of fiscal, administrative and economic capabilities. Bangladesh is most vulnerable to several natural disasters and every year natural calamities upset people's lives in some part of the country. The major disasters concerned here are the occurrences of flood, cyclone and storm surge, flash flood, drought, tornado, riverbank erosion, and landslide. These extreme natural events are termed disasters when they adversely affect the whole environment, including human beings, their shelters, or the resources essential for their livelihoods. The geographical setting of Bangladesh makes the country vulnerable to natural disasters. The mountains and hills bordering almost three-fourths of the country, along with the funnel shaped Bay of Bengal in the south, have made the country a meeting place of life-giving monsoon rains, but also makes it subjected to the catastrophic ravages of natural disasters. Its physiography and river morphology also contribute to recurring disasters. Abnormal rainfall and earthquakes in the adjacent Himalayan range add to the disaster situation. Effects of El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the apprehended climatic change have a great impact on the overall future disaster scenarios. Since Bangladesh is a disaster prone country, it is subject to colossal damages to life and property almost every year. The different types of disasters, and their impact on the affected areas can broadly be summarized as in the accompanying Table 3.5.1. uproot trees, telephone, telegraph and electricity lines, destroy bridges, culverts, and houses, kill people and domestic animals, leaving serious and adverse effects on the economy as well as on the whole environment. Although this country with monsoon climate has enough rain, droughts frequently take a significant portion out of the agricultural economy of Bangladesh, and cause hunger, instability, and insecurity. The northwestern part of the country is vulnerable to drought. Disastrous erosions are mainly associated with the major river systems of the country and are seen along these river banks i.e., the Brahmaputra- Jamuna, the Ganges-Padma, the Lower Meghna, and other rivers. The effects of a natural disaster, or a combination of more than one natural disaster may be direct loss of life, and certainly damage to physical properties. This requires large resources for disaster management including mitigation, recovery and preparedness. Therefore, the consequences of these natural hazards and the resulting environmental degradation pose a serious threat to the economic development of the country. The situation calls for an effective disaster warning and dissemination system. A timely and accurate alert system about impending disasters will help reduce the loss of life and property. Natural disasters cannot be prevented, but the damage can be mitigated with adequate planning and adaptation. The impacts of these disasters vary with their type and magnitude. They also critically depend on institutional strength and response by the different agencies that usually take measures to mitigate and eventually overcome the losses, such as the government and other civil service organizations.

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Table 3.5.1 Types of Disasters and their Impacts in Specific Disaster Prone Areas

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Figure 3.5.1 Disaster Prone Areas of Bangladesh (by Districts) Bangladesh is located in the low-lying Ganges- Brahmaputra river delta, formed by the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers and their tributaries, all of which empty into the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh’s delta is one of the most fertile plains in the world, but at the same time is also extremely vulnerable to floods and politically motivated conflicts regarding water issues, as most rivers originate outside of Bangladesh, for example in India and Nepal. Upstream activities such as deforestation enhance the magnitude of damage caused by floods. Similarly the upstream withdrawal of water due to the Farakka barrage across the Ganges in India leads to local drought conditions in some regions of Bangladesh.

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Floods: Many parts of Bangladesh are flooded every year as a result of rainfall and the overflow of river banks; the local population has adapted its livelihood strategies and agricultural practices accordingly. However, natural calamities such as major floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and tidal bores occur almost every year, varying in magnitude and intensity. Most parts of Bangladesh are less than 12 metres above sea level, and it has been calculated that about 50 percent of the land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by just one meter. Floods such as flash floods, monsoon floods and localized floods after cyclones, or when embankments are breached, have a severe impact on people’s lives and the wider economy. In September 1998, Bangladesh suffered the most severe flooding in modern world history: two thirds of the country was underwater, there were 1500 deaths and 30 million people were left homeless. The floods caused severe damage to road infrastructure, standing crops and livelihood assets such as agricultural equipment and inputs, productive assets and livestock. The total loss to the economy was estimated at US$1200 million. The severity of the 1998 floods is explained by the unusually high monsoon rains that year, combined with a similarly high amount of melt water from the Himalayas. There was also serious forest and soil degradation throughout the watershed catchment area (upstream and downstream), which increased the water run-off. Due to high population pressure and skewed landownership patterns, farming and settlements are increasingly pushed onto marginal land in areas at high risk of flooding. As a result, large numbers of people, especially the poor, are almost continuously exposed to flood related risks such as loss of life, crop damage, loss of assets (e.g. livestock and fishing equipment) and disruption to their livelihoods in general. When flooding occurs, vulnerable groups often lose their crops and assets, and may not be able to meet their daily needs or pay their loans. As a consequence, they are then forced to sell or lease out their land, resulting in changes in land tenure arrangements. One important example of such marginal, flood-prone areas is the highly unstable chars, the temporary lands within and adjoining the major rivers. Because these chars may be ‘new’ land emerging as a result of sand deposition, landownership in these areas is at times highly disputed.

Photo -Flood is a recurring phenomena Photo -City roads under floodwater

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Photo - Dhaka under floodwater Cyclones: Cyclones are very strong winds combined with intense rainfall. The 1991 Gorky Cyclone claimed 120 000 lives in Bangladesh and caused serious damage to livelihoods, assets and community infrastructure. The recent 2008 super cyclone, Sidr, affected more than nine million people in the southern districts of the country, and caused serious damage to housing, infrastructure, assets and standing crops. Compared to the Gorky disaster the number of deaths was considerably lower: more effective early warning systems were now in place and cyclone shelters were more widely available. However, the number of cyclone shelters is insufficient to cater for the number of people who need them, and usually the poorest sectors of the population living in high risk areas are too far from such shelters. Like floods, cyclones can have a devastating impact on people’s livelihoods, as a result of loss of crops, livestock and other assets. The land they used to farm or live on may disappear completely, or be damaged to the extent that it is no longer suitable for cultivation. Families also run the risk of losing their title deeds and may no longer be able to prove their ownership of the land. For example, in Sri Lanka after the 2003 Tsunami, many families lost their title deeds; as some local government offices were also seriously damaged, there were no land records at all.

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Photo -Storm path Photo -(A damaged village in Bangladesh, after the storm had struck)

Photo - Super Cyclonic Storm . River erosion: Whereas floods and cyclones are recurrent, river erosion is a serious, continuous threat faced by people living near rivers and coastal areas. Given Bangladesh’s high population density and unequal land distribution, many of the rural poor are forced to live in flood- and erosion-prone areas along the rivers and the coast. It has been estimated that at least 20000 families are made homeless because of river bank erosion every year. They are forced to migrate within their locality or to urban areas, joining the growing number of the urban poor. River erosion also affects local community infrastructure such as schools and colleges, mosques, markets, local clinics, hospitals and ports. For example, Chandpur – the biggest river port in the country and an important economic hub – has been severely affected by river erosion. Considerable funds have been invested to protect Chandpur from further erosion, but to little effect, partly because of a lack of strategic planning. When river erosion occurs quickly and suddenly, vulnerable groups

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may lose everything overnight. In other instances, river erosion is more gradual and people have more time to move their assets to a safer place. However, loss of cultivatable land and their homesteads is often inevitable. The magnitude of land lost to river erosion can be large and is sometimes referred to as a ‘silent tsunami’. National figures on the number of people affected, the areas of land eroded, and the damage caused by river erosion, are daunting. Between 1981 and 1992, 728 000 people were displaced by river erosion, an average of 64 000 each year. In the char areas, an estimated 462 000 people were displaced during this 11-year period, amounting to around 12 percent of the char area population8. Recent national figures are even higher, indicating that more than 250 000 people are the victims of land erosion every year, and annual economic losses are estimated at TK 1000 crore9. Many of those who lose their land have no other option except to move to major urban centers such as Dhaka. Some find themselves living their lives on the street as pavement dwellers: even a shack in a slum is beyond their reach10. According to the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), 155 280 hectares of land were eroded between 1973 and 2007. Moreover, CEGIS forecasts that for the next few years, about 29 000 people per year living along the major rivers will lose their homes and land. River erosion has always been common in Bangladesh, but its increasing frequency and intensity in recent years is causing concern. Reasons for this trend include climate change, deforestation in the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas, the silting of river beds coupled with the absence of adequate and appropriate river management, and a growing population. Increasing population density means that more people are shifting their lives towards the river banks, making them vulnerable to erosion and flood damage. River erosion also affects national borders.

Photo -River bank erosion Bangladesh has been losing land to India and Myanmar as a result of border-river erosion. Over time the border rivers Surma and Kushiara have changed direction, shifting the original border so that it is deeper inside Bangladeshi territory, resulting in a huge loss of land to India. According to a government estimate, the country has already lost nearly 15 000 hectares of land, caused by erosion in the 15 rivers that are shared with India and Myanmar. The country's borders, defined in 1974 by the Indira–Mujib border treaty, have now changed considerably, given that the Indian sides of the rivers are better protected against erosion.

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Drought : Although Bangladesh is known as a country with high rainfall, seasonal and contingent droughts caused by irregularities in rainfall do occur. The 1973 contingent drought contributed to the severe nationwide famine of 1974; most recently contingent droughts were also experienced in 1994 and 1995. Often coinciding with seasonal drought is the Monga period, when food stocks run out and there are almost no job opportunities during the months of October and November, before the main harvest season in December. Monga is a seasonal famine which occurs every year in many regions of Bangladesh, and especially in some of the north-western districts such as Greater Rangpur and Dinajpur, which are severely affected. The situation is worse if preceded by devastating floods. Thousands of poor people need to survive without adequate food for weeks. According to the WFP’s estimates, 80 to 90 percent of the affected people are agricultural day labourers, approximately 20 to 30 million people, who are forced to take consumption loans and migrate to other areas for work, leaving behind their families. Seasonal drought, combined with lack of agricultural wage labour, may put poor rural households under increased pressure to give up sharecropped and/or owned land, leading to further inequalities and concentration of landownership. Landslides: Landslides often occur in the hilly areas in and around Chittagong and the Chittagong hill tracts, triggered by incessant monsoon rains, forest deforestation and hill cutting. A series of recent landslides between 2003 and 2008 have caused loss of human lives, homes and agricultural land. Although the links between deforestation, unsafe housing development practices in hilly urban areas and landslides are known and recognized, the government is not taking any action. Earthquakes: Bangladesh is located in a region of significant seismic activity. Although most people do not perceive seismic risk to be of great importance, the occurrence of small magnitude earthquakes in Bangladesh is quite frequent. The zones most severely affected include the northern part of Dinajpur, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Tangail; similarly the northern part of Dhaka, Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia, and Chittagong, including the Chittagong hill tracts. Earthquake records12 suggest that more than one hundred moderate to large earthquakes have occurred in Bangladesh since 1900, of which more than 65 events took place after 1960. Fifteen new epicenters have been identified inside Bangladesh since January 2001. The data clearly indicate an increased frequency of earthquakes in Bangladesh. Although Bangladesh is increasingly vulnerable to seismic activity, the nature and the level of this activity is poorly defined. The 1997 Chittagong earthquake, or the 1997 Bandarban earthquake, occurred on November 21, 1997 at 11:23 UTC in the Bangladesh-India-Myanmar border region. It had a magnitude of Mw 6.1. The epicenter was located in southern Mizoram, India. While no fatalities were reported in Mizoram, India, however, 23 people were killed when a 5-storey building collapsed in Chittagong, Bangladesh

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1997 Chittagong Earthquake

Date 21 November 1997 Magnitude Mw 6.1 Depth 54 km Casualties 23

The 1997 Chittagong earthquake, or the 1997 Bandarban earthquake, occurred on November 21, 1997 at 11:23 UTC in the Bangladesh-India-Myanmar border region. It had a magnitude of Mw 6.1. The epicenter was located in southern Mizoram, India. While no fatalities were reported in Mizoram, India, however, 23 people were killed when a 5-storey building collapsed in Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Climate change and natural disasters: Bangladesh is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world and has already suffered 170 large-scale disasters between 1970 and 1998. The frequency, intensity and scale of floods have increased, with eight major floods occurring between 1974 and 2004. Given current trends in climate change, and other triggers such as man-made disasters (e.g. deforestation, soil erosion), it is expected that the scale, intensity and frequency of disasters will also increase. The population of Bangladesh will need to cope with the impact of floods, droughts, cyclones and other extreme temperatures on a more regular basis. These will not only affect the population and its livelihoods but also seriously affect infrastructure, such as port facilities and coastal embankments and structures. Natural disasters will also destroy quality farm lands and existing irrigation and drainage schemes, disrupt mangroves, fisheries and bird habitats, accelerate coastal and river erosion, increase salt water intrusion into ground water, rivers, agricultural, and coastal forestlands, and affect cyclone and storm surge protection measures in coastal areas.

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Abnormal Rainfall, Hailstorms, and Lightning: Monsoon depressions that form in the Bay of Bengal move landward, and cause monsoon rain to be spread widely throughout the country. The mean annual rainfall in Bangladesh varies from about 1400 mm. in the western part of the country, to almost 5000 mm. in the northeast region. There are wide seasonal fluctuations, with about 90 per cent of the rainfall occurring during the four months of the monsoon period (June - September). Monsoon depressions that form in the Bay of Bengal move landward, and cause monsoon rain to be spread widely throughout the country. Based on the area of formation, structure, intensity, and frequency of the monsoon depressions, the total rainfall during the monsoon period can be predicted. In spite of an overall abundance of rainfall during monsoon, at times serious rainfall shortage leads to droughts. It is not unusual for regions in Bangladesh to experience inadequate rainfall during the monsoon, while little rain during the dry season (October-March) is quite common, too. A number of constraints are inherent in the monsoon rainfall, and climatic pattern. In addition, uncertainty in patterns of pre-monsoon showers, lightning, and hail cause a tremendous impact on human life, and agricultural production. The month-to-month and year-to-year variations in the atmospheric parameters like rainfall, temperature, humidity, etc., cause substantial variations in crop yields. Therefore, in Bangladesh the patterns of life, and cultivation practices have traditionally been adapted to seasonal variability in climatic characteristics. IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS: Natural disasters have a tremendous impact on the overall economy of the country. Apart from the instant impacts, natural disasters can also leave long-term impacts. Almost every year due to natural disasters and climatic hazards, Bangladesh is subject to colossal loss of life and damage of property. All the national planning efforts for development are disrupted by these calamities that leave behind damaged infrastructure facilities, physical assets and land. The human suffering goes beyond description. The impact of natural disasters not only varies with their type and magnitude, but also critically depends on institutional strength and response to disasters by different branches of the government, as well as community-based organizations. For example, the intensities of the 1991 and 1997 cyclones were of the same magnitude. In the 1991 cyclone, more than 13.7 million people were affected, approximately 138,882 people died, and 139,058 people were injured; and the total loss of livestock and poultry was about one million. On the other hand, the number of human deaths were only 134 from the cyclone in 1997, and 0.4 million people were affected. Loss minimization was only possible due to accurate and timely forecasting, adequate proper warning dissemination, social mobilization, proper coordination by the government, and other institutional backup. The effects of the devastating flood of 1988 were enormous. According to the World Bank, 45 million people were affected - with 1600 deaths directly attributed to it, and another 735 deaths occurred subsequently as a result of diarrheal diseases. Damage to summer rice crops was estimated at about 1.6 million tons, and loss of physical and economic infrastructure was extensive. About 2,500 km of flood control embankments, 23,500 units of minor irrigation equipment, 10,000 km of local roads, a substantial proportion of national highways and railways, several hundred bridges, over 19,000 educational institutes, 1,468 health structures, and 7.2 million housing units were affected by the flood. In the 1998 flood, 918 people lost their lives, and 242,500 people were sick. Standing crops of 32,31,721 acres were fully or partially damaged. The losses of domestic animals such as

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cattle, goats, and poultry were 3928, 7041, and 313058, respectively (DMB, 1998). According to the Disaster Management Bureau, the loss of standing crops, including paddy, was estimated at Taka 33.05 billion. BIDS studies revealed that the loss to the agriculture sector was Taka 50.52 billion, of which the losses from rice and other crops were Taka 43.77 billion; and Taka 6.75 billion for fisheries, livestock, etc. The discrepancy between the estimates is mainly due to estimation methodology, and coverage. Drought is a spatially limited phenomenon affecting the northwestern part of the country. Loss of crop yield is the major impact of drought, and affects the economy of Bangladesh badly.

Solutions:

Solutions of Earthquake of Bangladesh:

Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but its damage can be reduced with suitable measures. While Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in disaster management for frequently occurring hazards such as cyclone, tornado and floods, it is at an infant stage with regard to earthquakes. We have a long way to go, but at least in the past few years, some encouraging activities have started and are continuing with both individual and institutional efforts. The Government has also stressed the importance for developing a national earthquake management system and has taken steps in this regard.

For earthquake disaster mitigation, the following measures should be given top priority:

1. Increase public awareness about earthquakes through mass media, education, and training.

2. Refined assessment of probable ground motion and identifying local soil effects

3. Reliable assessment of probable damage to buildings and other structures.

4. Updating of the building code

5. Legal enforcement of building code.

6. Building insurance to promote earthquake resistant construction.

7. Seismic strengthening of critical structures and facilities.

8. Developing laboratory and testing facilities for research.

9. Developing low-cost seismic strengthening techniques so that individual house owners are encouraged to adopt them.

10. Training of engineers, planners, architects and construction workers.

11. Automatic safety shutdown system for gas and electricity during a major earthquake

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12. Developing facilities for post earthquake rescue and recovery.

13. Urban (including transport) planning of the city to mitigate earthquake effects.

Solutions of floods of Bangladesh:

Dams – hold back flood waters. Reservoirs – store floodwater and therefore control the discharge of the river. Straighten channels – Increases speed of flow of the river to remove water from affected

areas. Dredging – keeps the channel from sediments so more water can flow through it. Levees and embankments – prevents river from overflowing A forestation – increases interception etc, reduces run off Land use zoning – restricts development to uses unaffected by flooding

Solution of avoid tornadoes damage:

If we have been warned of a tornado coming, stay alert to the changing weather conditions. Listen to the news and gather information about it. This will help a lot to prevent tornado damage. There are certain signs or warning signs that we can observe in nature before a tornado. Watch out for such signs like dark or greenish sky, rotating or large, dark, low-lying cloud, large hail, loud roar which is similar to a freight train.

If we are inside a building, go to a safe room, storm cellar, basement or lowest level of the building. If you cannot go to the basement, then go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level of the building.

If you are inside a vehicle, trailer or mobile structure during a tornado, the best way to prevent tornado damage is to quickly move to a nearby building, storm shelter or a low level floor.

We will be safer if we take shelter in a low or flat area than in a raised area, but avoid taking shelter under an overpass or a bridge.

During a tornado, we should watch out for flying debris. It is the flying debris that causes more injuries and fatalities during a tornado.

If we are in urban or congested areas, we should not try to get away in a vehicle. Instead leave the vehicle and take shelter in the lowest floor of a building.

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Solution of cyclones

1. Steps to be taken before the commencement of cyclone season:

i) Check houses, secure loose tiles by cementing, wherever necessary, repair door and windows.

ii) Check the area around the house-remove dead or dying trees, anchor removal objects like lumber piles, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards, loose zinc sheets etc.

iii) Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded.

iv) Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, flash light and enough dry cells.

v) Promptly demolish condemned buildings.

vi) Those who have radio sets should ensure that the radio is fully serviceable. In case

Of transistors an extra set of batteries should be kept handy.

2. Steps to be taken when a warning for a cyclone threatening is received:

i) Keep radio on and listen to latest weather warning and advisories from nearest All India Radio Station. Pass the information to others.

ii) Avoid being misled by ramous, pass on only the official information you have got from the Radio to others.

iii) Get away from low lying beaches or other location which may be swept by high tides or storm waves. Leave sufficiently, before your way to high ground gets flooded.

v) Be alert for high water in areas where streams of rivers may flood due to heavy rains.

vi) Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place

vii) If we do not have wooden boards handy paste paper strips on glasses to prevent splinters flying into the house.

viii) Get extra food, especially things which can be eaten without cooking or with very little preparation. Store extra drinking water in suitable covered vessels.

xii) Be sure that window or door can be opened on the lee of the house i.e. the side opposite the one facing the wind.

xiii) Make provisions for children and adults requiring special diets.

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Conclusion:

Though developing countries in regions vulnerable to disasters received many development initiatives and investments, the increased frequency and magnitude of natural catastrophes associated with economic loss and human sufferings have considerably hindered those initiatives. This book has sought to derive conclusions from empirical evidence in order to integrate disaster risk management initiatives into development objectives. It can be seen in the preceding chapters that human development and income levels of a country are crucial determinants for deciding upon how to effectively implement risk management approaches and post disaster management initiatives. In addition, it was found that participation by women in dynamic risk management process is imperative for any meaningful disaster counter measures, especially in the least developed countries.