Despite soaring floods, Bangladesh grapples with acute funds

Last Updated on December 1, 2024 6:10 am

Bangladesh has been unable to secure compensation from industrialized nations due to a lack of relevant data, needed to estimate the amount of damage caused by climate change

Ashraf Hossain – a resident of Kandla village under Kanighat Upazila of Sylhet, a city of eastern Bangladesh– has been hit by floods twice this year.

The sole breadwinner of a seven-member family, his homestead was severely damaged by the climate disaster. Many of his household items were washed away. Ashraf, left penniless, did not receive any assistance.

Unable to repair his home, Ashraf is now living with his family in a ramshackle domicile under inhumane living conditions, barely surviving.

Speaking to The Climate Watch, the flood victim said, “Floods severely impact us every year, but this year, I was hit twice by the disaster. Like me, many do not receive any government assistance at all for their loss and damage.

“I am the only breadwinner after the death of my father. As an extended family, we are struggling to survive with two school going younger brothers and my mother.”

Farmer Nurunnabi – who lives in Dakshin Sripur village under Gaibandha district of Rangpur Division, northwestern Bangladesh– has been hit by floods multiple times this year.

Detailing his predicament, Nurunnabi said, “Floods hit my region a few months ago. After the floods, I cultivated T-Aman paddy on five bighas of land and lost the crops due to river erosion. No one here, including me, received any compensation.”

At COP15 in 2009, the developed nations agreed on a climate finance target to mobilize $100 billion annually to address the need of developing countries climate action.

Moreover, at COP27 and 27, a Loss and Damage fund was created for supporting countries to offset the damage from natural disasters caused by climate change. This fund has so far received around $793 million, funding disbursement to victim countries is yet to begin.

Bangladesh’s Environment Secretary Farhina Ahmed had previously said despite assurance from the rich countries in the Global North, Bangladesh has so far received $344 million in grants and $250 million in loans as climate finance, though the country must spend over 7% of its national budget for climate change related issues.

Bangladesh demanded billions for tackling the adverse impacts of climate change.

Bangladesh’s Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has already highlighted the critical funding gap in adaptation measures, noting that Bangladesh requires $8.5 billion annually, but can only mobilise $3 billion from internal sources, causing a $5.5 billion shortfall.

Experts however say Bangladesh must produce more rigorous scientific studies, data, and reviews to access such funding.

For getting access to grants, Bangladesh must submit to the international arena an accurate calculation of the damage triggered by climate change impacts. However, there has been little real initiative in this regard.

Floods hit Bangladesh for 57 days in 9 phases

Maulana Bhashani University of Science and Technology Professor Dr Ruksana Haque Rimi said, “Bangladesh is facing floods every year due to climate change. The size, impact and damage of floods are increasing every year.

“The floods of 1988, 1998 and 2004 were devastating. Since then, there may not have been floods all over the country at once, but there has been severe flooding in different divisions, districts, or regions.”

This year, Bangladesh witnessed floods in regions that usually do not witness this natural disaster, she pointed out, adding that due to climate change, the country has been witnessing various natural disasters, including floods.

Meteorologists in South Asia have predicted more rain this year compared to any other years, and this prediction came true.

Because of the heavy rainfall, and flow from the mountain slopes coming from neighbouring India – which is upstream of Bangladesh, various divisions, districts, and regions of the country became flooded seventeen times in nine phases.

Among the affected regions, Sylhet division witnessed the most floods – five times. Meanwhile, Chattogram witnessed floods four times, various areas of Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions three times, and Sirajganj district of Rajshahi got hit twice this year.

Sardar Uday Raihan, executive engineer at the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water Development Board, said, “These regions across Bangladesh got flooded for 57 days in nine phases this year.

“The natural disaster triggered loss of human lives, and extensive damage to agriculture, fisheries and livestock.”

He continued, “The first phase of flooding occurred in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar for 11 days from May 28 to June 7. During this time, Sylhet received 2,084 mm of rainfall.

“At the same time, the Indian region upstream of Sylhet witnessed 3,148 mm of rain, which stood at 1,310 mm in a day. Sylhet district received 702 mm of rain, and 214 mm in 24 hours.”

Raihan added, “In the second phase, several districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Feni, and different districts of Rangpur division were affected by floods for 12 days from June 15 to 26.

“These regions witnessed 9,938 mm of rain during this timeframe, and 2,842 mm in just one day.”

In the third phase, from June 30 to July 16, the Sylhet division, Mymensingh division’s Sherpur, Netrokona, Dhaka’s Kishoreganj district, Rangpur division, Chittagong division’s Feni, and Rajshahi’s Sirajganj districts were flooded.

These regions witnessed 9,134 mm of rain during this period, and 2,197 mm of rain in 24 hours. Jaflong also witnessed a significant amount of rain at 953 mm.

In the fourth phase, floods hit Bandarban, Khagrachari, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, and Feni regions for three days from August 1 to 3. These regions witnessed 2,412 mm of rain during this period, and 1,034 mm of rain in a day.

In the fifth phase, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Jaflong became flooded for 7 days from August 7 to 13. The region witnessed 1,112 mm of rain during that period, and 339 mm in 24 hours.

Cherrapunjee, also known as Sohra – a high-altitude town in the northeast Indian state of Meghalaya – witnessed 597 mm of rainfall during the period, and 262 mm in 24 hours.

According to data provided by Raihan, in the sixth phase, Sylhet division, Cumilla, Chattogram, and Feni were flooded for 9 days from August 19 to 27. These regions witnessed 5,983 mm of rainfall during this period, and 2,372 mm of rain in a day.

Sylhet especially witnessed 199 mm of rainfall, Chattogram 182 mm, and Cumilla 210 mm in a day.

In the seventh phase, Lama in Bandarban witnessed 91 mm of rainfall, which led to a flood situation.

In the eighth phase, floods gripped the Rangpur division on September 28 and 29. The region witnessed 458 mm of rain in two days. In the ninth phase, Sherpur, Netrokona, and Mymensingh districts of Mymensingh were flooded for 7 days from October 4 to 10.

Financial toll reaches Tk202 billion in 2024

The Department of Disaster Management has calculated the amount of damage caused by multiple floods in twenty-five districts in four phases from June to October.

According to them, financial losses due to the June floods reached an estimated Tk 6 billion. The figure is Tk 40 billion for July, Tk 142 billion for August, Tk 14 billion for October floods. So, till the filing of this report, the financial toll from floods this year exceeded Tk 202 billion.

Floods may intensify in the future

Addressing this matter, Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) Professor AKM Saiful Islam said, “The number of floods in Bangladesh will increase due to climate change. The amount of rain will increase in this region of the world, and the number of floods will also go up too.

“So, we must figure out what kind of measures are needed to tackle challenges posed by different seasons. There are various aspects and activities related to flood management. Permanent rehabilitation of flood victims is also a key aspect. Besides, regular dredging of rivers and regional planning should be done accordingly.”

He added, “River dredging is an expensive endeavor, so the local populace must do some of the work in this regard under their own initiative. They should not dump garbage in canals and rivers. The rivers too should be kept free from encroachment and pollution.

“Dhaka had 52 canals, of which 26 survive after being filled and occupied.”

Climate impacts taking a toll

According to the Department of Disaster Management, 122 people died across the country during the four phases of floods.

According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, 18.3 million people have been affected by natural disasters, including cyclones and floods in the four months from May to August in Bangladesh.

Moreover, floods impacted as many as five million children in the south-eastern and north-eastern regions of Bangladesh in the 4 months, read a UNICEF report.

Natural disasters, including excessive floods, droughts, and heat waves are on the rise, and climate change is the root cause, said experts.

Thousands of Bangladeshis are losing their homes due to the rising sea level every year.

According to the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, the country’s sea level at different areas rose from 3.6mm – 4.1mm from 1993 to 2019, which is faster than the global average 3.42mm a year.

Increasing salinity is threatening 25% food production in the country’s coastal regions.

Salinity in soil exceeded 16 dS/m–1 (DeciSiemens per meter) in arable land, though the traditional varieties of most crops can withstand salinity of up to only 0.7dS/m.

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is struggling to cope with this situation, and at least 5,000,000 hectares of land still remains out of cultivation due to the high salinity issue.

A rise in salinity is also triggering serious health hazards in the coastal population, especially among women.

In 2024, the country experienced extremely high temperatures that reached up to 42°C during the April-September period, which is 6 degrees more than the annual average. This recorded figure was the highest since 1948.

Heatwave had forced the Bangladesh government to shut down educational institutions across the country, which affected the academic activities of thirty-three million children.

Youth leading countrywide ‘climate battle’

Youths are strongly raising their voices in support of climate justice. Despite their limited capacity, they are rushing out to aid the victims of climate change.

Bangladesh joined the recent COP29 with the largest-ever youth delegation. During the nationwide floods in 2024, they were seen actively distributing relief, conducting rescue operations, and providing healthcare to the victims.

Therefore, the experts recommended appointing the global youth as “paid volunteers” through the United Nations to combat climate change risks across the globe.

Center for Atmospheric Pollution Study Center (CAPS) Chairman Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said, “It does not matter how much compensation we ask from the international community, how will they compensate for our psychological damage, the loss of ancestral homes, the loss of religious structures?

“Therefore, it is important to involve the youth in every environmental issue, including climate and water justice, instead of just limiting them only to the compensation process.”

Echoing the same, Waterkeepers Senegal Coordinator Mbacké Seck said, “We all need to involve young people in preventing climate change and ensuring water justice.”

Battle for justice and funds 

Discussing the complicated issue of seeking climate change compensation from industrialized nations for the flood victims, Center for Climate Justice Bangladesh Director Advocate M Hafijul Islam Khan said, “There have been nine floods and two cyclones this year.

“Scientists say this is the result of climate change. The industrialized nations responsible for these disasters must pay compensation according to the Paris Agreement. The Loss and Damage Fund was announced in COP28. It will be operational by the middle of next year.”

He continued, “Due to climate change, natural disasters, including floods, droughts, heavy rains, and cyclones are increasing. We should present tangible data to those responsible for climate change.

“To do this, our government has to assess the damage caused by each natural disaster.”

Hafijul then pointed out, “We must remember that we are not seeking support or loans, but they must pay us fines or compensation. Last year, a $793 million fund was announced in the loss and damage sector.

“But this year alone we lost Tk 300 billion in the flooding of Noakhali. The victims of natural disasters not only deserve humanitarian aid, but also be rehabilitated with compensation for the loss of their property.”

Chief Executive of Change Initiative M Zakir Hossain commented, “Besides the risk of climate change, the less developed countries – including Bangladesh – are becoming entrapped in social and economic risks.

“While aid should be allocated quickly from the Loss and Damage Fund set up under the Paris Agreement, industrialized countries are piling debt on top of us instead of keeping their promises. Less developed countries – including Bangladesh – are facing more losses. A united demand for compensation should be raised for this reason.”

Addressing a COP29 conference, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan had said, “Two severe floods this year have cost Bangladesh $1.7 billion, which is equivalent to 1.8% of our national budget.

“In the last 18 months, we have suffered 15 natural disasters related to climate change, and 1.2 million people got marooned in water.”

In a discussion titled “Damage and Compensation Assessment, and Access to International Climate Finance,” Rizwana emphasized on implementing global effective mechanisms to tackle climate change-related damages.

Climate justice requires developed countries to strengthen Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), reduce reliance on market mechanisms, and uphold commitments to high-quality climate finance.

Shawkat Ali Mirza, Director of Climate Change and International Conventions at Bangladesh’s Department of Environment, stated, “We submitted our National Adaptation Plan in October 2022, which requires $230 billion by 2050. This plan is well-researched and strategically designed. While Bangladesh is making every effort to combat the adverse impacts of climate change, we are not receiving adequate financial support. We also have the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041, and a comprehensive roadmap for implementing Bangladesh’s NDC. We are committed to these initiatives and working relentlessly to achieve them.”