Experts for resilient urban planning to check future flood impacts

Water and climate experts have called for resilient urban planning, restoration of natural waterways and strengthened water management systems to reduce the impacts of floods and waterlogging, reports BSS.

Bangladesh, they said, has the experience and capacity to better cope with seasonal monsoon challenges through science-based planning and preparedness.

Talking about the ongoing floods in different parts of the country, eminent water resources and climate change expert Professor Ainun Nishat and Professor AKM Saiful Islam called for improved planning, efficient drainage infrastructure and stronger community preparedness are essential to enhancing the country's resilience.

Professor Nishat said heavy rainfall during the Bengali month of Ashar is a normal feature of Bangladesh's monsoon climate and remains vital for agriculture and water resources.

"This is the time when it is supposed to rain. If it doesn't rain now, then when will it?" he said.

The challenge, he said, lies not in the rainfall itself but in ensuring that rainwater can flow naturally through canals, wetlands and drainage systems.

He said many natural drainage channels have disappeared due to unplanned urbanisation, while roads, embankments and other infrastructure have often been built without adequate water outlets.

Restoring canals, protecting wetlands and incorporating proper drainage facilities into future infrastructure projects would significantly reduce flooding and prolonged waterlogging, he said.