Dhaka: Bangladesh needs a more accurate flood forecasting system, increased investment in disaster management and better urban planning to minimise losses from increasingly frequent floods driven by climate change and rapid urbanisation, experts have said. Professor Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Dhaka, emphasized strengthening the country's flood forecasting and early warning system as a priority, highlighting that timely forecasts can significantly reduce casualties and economic losses.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, reliable forecasts can enable authorities to operate drainage pumps before water accumulates, mobilise emergency services, and allow people to take precautionary measures to protect their lives and property. Dr. Kabir stressed the importance of modern weather monitoring technology, including fully functional weather radars, real-time rainfall and river monitoring, and stronger coordination among agencies responsible for weather forecasting, water resources, and disaster management.
He also advocated for increased budgetary allocation for disaster management to improve forecasting capacity, strengthen preparedness, and enhance emergency response. The professor suggested that the government adopt long-term urban water management strategies by reconnecting Dhaka's canals, wetlands, and surrounding water bodies to facilitate natural drainage during heavy rainfall.
Years of unplanned urbanisation have disrupted the city's natural drainage system, as noted by Professor Kabir, through canal and wetland encroachment, indiscriminate filling of ponds and low-lying areas, and the loss of open green spaces. To mitigate waterlogging in Dhaka, he recommended improvements to the drainage system, restoration of degraded wetlands, maintenance and creation of retention ponds, and promotion of rainwater harvesting.
Furthermore, he underscored the need for rainwater to be treated as a resource rather than waste. Promoting rainwater harvesting in public and private buildings could not only reduce waterlogging but also ease pressure on groundwater. He urged the government to implement rainwater harvesting systems in major public institutions, including the University of Dhaka, before expanding the initiative nationwide.
Professor A.K.M. Saiful Islam of the Institute of Water and Flood Management at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology highlighted that Bangladesh experiences various forms of flooding, including urban floods, river floods, flash floods, hill-torrent floods, and floods in low-lying plains, each requiring different management approaches. He explained how recent flooding was triggered by a monsoon depression that transported moisture from the Bay of Bengal into the eastern region, causing intense orographic rainfall.
Chattogram experienced about 413 millimetres of rainfall in a single day recently and nearly 850 millimetres over three days, exceeding the carrying capacity of rivers and drainage systems. Such extreme rainfall is becoming more common due to climate change, which increases atmospheric moisture, resulting in more intense downpours. Professor Islam noted that heavy rainfall alone does not account for the severity of urban flooding. Rapid and unplanned urbanisation, wetland and canal encroachment, obstruction of natural drainage, and poor solid waste management have significantly increased flood risks in cities.
He pointed out that many drains have lost their carrying capacity due to being clogged with garbage. Construction of new drains will not be effective unless existing drains are cleaned regularly and solid waste is managed properly with active public participation. The experts also stressed the need for strict implementation of urban master plans, building regulations, and zoning policies, alongside improved maintenance of drainage infrastructure and embankments.
They concluded that accurate forecasting, science-based urban planning, restoration of natural water bodies, wider adoption of rainwater harvesting, and stronger institutional coordination would collectively help Bangladesh better cope with the increasing risks posed by floods in a changing climate.