Natural calamities in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a land of natural calamities. Here floods, cyclones, drought, and famine destroy life and property every year. People have to live here fighting against frequent natural calamities like floods, cyclones, tidal bore, heavy down-pour, and drought. Of all these natural calamities, floods and cyclones are very common. They visit our country almost every year.
Floods in our country are caused in many ways. Among them, heavy rainfall during the rainy season and rush of water from the upper north are the main causes of floods. It causes a sudden increase of water in the rivers and canals which overflow their banks and cause floods. Sometimes violent cyclones, tidal bores, tsunamis and melting of snow on mountains cause devastating floods.
Flood causes huge loss of life and property and brings catastrophic suffering to the people of the country. The crop fields, houses, roads and streets go underwater. Standing crops and vegetables are damaged and millions of people become homeless. They face the scarcity of food, drinkable water, and shelter and suffer much. Epidemic and famine break out to add to the misery and suffering of the flood-affected people.
Cyclone is another natural calamity in our country. It revolves violently around a center, advances rapidly and hits the offshore islands and mainland. During the last few years, several devastating cyclones hit Bangladesh and caused immense harm to the people. This weather condition is a curse, especially to the people of coastal areas of Bangladesh.
Cyclones in Bangladesh usually originate from the Bay of Bengal and blow to the mainland with the tidal bore. It is often associated with thunders and heavy showers. It takes away the lives of many people and animals. It destroys houses, properties, crops and trees. It also creates a scarcity of food and spread different kinds of diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, fever etc. in all the affected areas.
However, the losses of cyclones can be reduced to some extent by using modern technology of weather forecasting and prior warning. Floods can also be prevented by building embankments and barrages and by developing a well-planned irrigation system. The river beds should be dredged for carrying more water by the rivers.
In fine, the people of Bangladesh have no option but to live here fighting against all kinds of natural calamities as they have nothing to do with these natural calamities. Moreover, since there is no way to stop these natural calamities, the government should take effective measures to mitigate the sufferings of the victims.