No major floods likely this year

Naim-Ul-Karim | Published: July 21, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The probability of widespread floods occurring this year in the country, apart from some isolated areas, is lower as the risk factors are indicating to a normal situation, said government officials and experts on Sunday.

The government's Department for Disaster Management (DDM), the Met Office and the Bangladesh chapter of Swiss based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said all risk factors, considered as key elements for massive flooding in the country, are still showing that there are no reasons for apprehension.

Director general of the government's DDM, K H Masud Siddiqui, told the FE that "There is no reason of apprehension that the country will face massive flood this year as risk factors remains normal."

Analysing the risk factors, Ainun Nishat, country representative of IUCN, said: "We don't apprehend any massive flood. Some global web sites are indicating a relatively dry situation this year like that of 2006 as rainfall will be of average magnitude."

Despite normalcy in the risk factors, he said people in a number of districts including Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Gaibandha, Brahmanbaria, Kishorgonj, Nator and Lalmonirhat is not out of danger of flood.

Dr. Nishat said: "The Tista and the Surma are already flowing at high level. Therefore, areas covered by theses two rivers including Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Sylhet and Sunamgonj are at the stake of flood."

Regarding the incessant rain in many parts of the country including capital over the last few days, he said it is seasonal and will help farmers in Aman cultivation.

Echoing similar view, Anjuman Habib, a director of the Met Office, said seasonal rains will not pave the way for floods as this time it is favouring the country.

"We don't see any risks of flooding this year as the meteorological factors are showing normal situation until now."

She said there is need for a comprehensive regional approach to reduce the risk factors of flooding in South East Asian countries.

An official of the Department of Agriculture said farmers of the country, excepting some areas, which are at the stake of flood, can proceed with their Aman cultivation.

He said incessant rain will help keep the transplanted seedlings of Aman healthy.

"We have already conveyed the message of lower probability of flood this year to the farmers through our thana offices," the official said.

Dr. Nishat, however, said the prediction of weather on long term basis is still unreliable therefore the flood disaster preparedness in the country should not be relaxed.

"Though there is low probability of flood in the country we are ready to face any such situation." Mr. Siddiqui said.

He said the DDM is closely monitoring the situation with the assistance of district administrations.

Nearly two-thirds of Bangladesh -- a delta nation of 140 million people -- has been flooded in 2006. The floods, the worst since 1998, have affected about 20 million people.