Bangladesh may witness more floods this monsoon, experts warn

Bangladesh is likely to witness more floods this monsoon, experts warn.

They also urged the government to take preparations for both flood and post-flood rehabilitation.

AKM Saiful Islam, professor at the Institute of Water and Flood Management of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), said that Bangladesh may endure more floods this monsoon.

"As long as the monsoon is active, there is a chance of flooding. Monsoon season has just started, so the country might face more floods," he told The Daily Star today (June 21, 2022).

Monsoon season usually continues till September but in recent years it stretches till mid-October at times.

Bangladesh is already witnessing severe flood in Sylhet and northern region. Experts say in the coming days, the northern and central areas of the country will face flood but situation will improve soon.

Mostofa Kamal, an environmental researcher at University of Saskatchewan, said more floods could be on the cards this monsoon season as La Nina conditions are prevailing over the eastern tropical pacific.

He said it is to be noted that during a La Nina year, the Indian subcontinent receives above-average rainfall and creates above-average flood conditions (more areas inundated than a normal year).

La Nina is a climate pattern that describes the cooling of surface ocean waters along the tropical west coast of South America.

Kamal predicted that there is a big probability of flood in the country in second and third week of July due to the active Madden-Julian oscillation.

Professor Saiful said the flood situation in Sylhet has already started improving but the flood situation in the middle part of the country will deteriorate in the coming days but it wouldn't be that disastrous like it was in the Sylhet division.

He said the government must take preparations for the upcoming floods and at the same time it should take steps for rehabilitation.

"As water will recede from the flood affected areas, special attention should be given on road repairs and other post disaster issues," he said.

Asked whether the frequency and intensity of flood is increasing in Bangladesh, he said the climate events have been changing across the world and Bangladesh is no exception.