Embankments build on the river to protect Dhaka city from flooding
Credit: InOldNews | Sumit Das
Location & Date: Dhaka 03/07/2024
Flooding is natural to Bangladesh's geographical landscape, with approximately 80% of its land comprised of floodplains and crisscrossed with more than 700 rivers. A significant portion of the country, roughly two-thirds, lies within 5 meters (16.4 feet) above sea level. In spite of Bangladesh’s natural flooding phenomenon, recent reports highlight climate change as a critical factor exacerbating flood risks. For instance, in 2022, unprecedented monsoon rains in India's Meghalaya state triggered flash floods in north-eastern Bangladesh, resulting in over 100 fatalities, affecting more than 7 million people.
In response to these challenges, embankments in Dhaka serve as essential defences against flooding. Situated strategically along the river banks these structures play a pivotal role in containing water during monsoons and extreme weather events. By acting as barriers against rising water levels, embankments mitigate the risk of inundation for urban and rural areas alike, safeguarding homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from floodwaters.
Furthermore, embankments are crucial for managing rainwater runoff in Dhaka's densely populated regions, where the risk of localized flooding is heightened, particularly in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging during heavy rainfall. By effectively directing and controlling rainwater flow, these structures help maintain the functionality and accessibility of transportation networks, ensuring that roads, bridges, and utilities remain operational even amidst adverse weather conditions.
In the face of ongoing climate change impacts, such as sea level rise and erratic rainfall patterns, the maintenance and enhancement of embankment infrastructure are essential components of Dhaka's flood resilience strategy. These measures are vital for protecting lives and livelihoods, as well as sustaining urban development in a region vulnerable to the intensifying effects of global climate shifts.
This CC-BY-licensed footage of climate change was published with support from Internews' Earth Journalism Network and The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Embankments build on the river to protect Dhaka city from flooding
Credit: InOldNews | Sumit Das
Location & Date: Dhaka 03/07/2024
Flooding is natural to Bangladesh's geographical landscape, with approximately 80% of its land comprised of floodplains and crisscrossed with more than 700 rivers. A significant portion of the country, roughly two-thirds, lies within 5 meters (16.4 feet) above sea level. In spite of Bangladesh’s natural flooding phenomenon, recent reports highlight climate change as a critical factor exacerbating flood risks. For instance, in 2022, unprecedented monsoon rains in India's Meghalaya state triggered flash floods in north-eastern Bangladesh, resulting in over 100 fatalities, affecting more than 7 million people.
In response to these challenges, embankments in Dhaka serve as essential defences against flooding. Situated strategically along the river banks these structures play a pivotal role in containing water during monsoons and extreme weather events. By acting as barriers against rising water levels, embankments mitigate the risk of inundation for urban and rural areas alike, safeguarding homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from floodwaters.
Furthermore, embankments are crucial for managing rainwater runoff in Dhaka's densely populated regions, where the risk of localized flooding is heightened, particularly in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging during heavy rainfall. By effectively directing and controlling rainwater flow, these structures help maintain the functionality and accessibility of transportation networks, ensuring that roads, bridges, and utilities remain operational even amidst adverse weather conditions.
In the face of ongoing climate change impacts, such as sea level rise and erratic rainfall patterns, the maintenance and enhancement of embankment infrastructure are essential components of Dhaka's flood resilience strategy. These measures are vital for protecting lives and livelihoods, as well as sustaining urban development in a region vulnerable to the intensifying effects of global climate shifts.
This CC-BY-licensed footage of climate change was published with support from Internews' Earth Journalism Network and The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).