Higher magnitude flooding used to be a fairly infrequent phenomenon, happening in only six different years over a 42-year period from 1972 to 2014. At a time when Bangladesh struggles to avert a food crisis, particularly in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is nothing if not alarming. The task ahead for the government is clear: Urgent steps must be taken to safeguard against flooding. These waterbodies have lost their capacity to retain water -- they then overflow and cause untold damage and human misery. Not only is that an immediate humanitarian need, but one to safeguard our food security, and our economic development goals.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 26, 2020 21:33 UTC