A Comprehensive Disaster Management

Plan for Bangladesh

By

Dr. Md. S. I. Khan, D. Sc.

Former Disaster Management Planner
United Nations

Dr. Md. Sabbir Mostafa Khan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Water Resources
Engineering, BUET

Major hazards in Bangladesh

Flood
z Tidal surges/Tsunami
z Cyclone
z Drought
z Earthquake
z Limited Land Area and Enormous
population
z Diversion of Bangladesh water by India
z

Flood Aggravation
z
z
z
z
z
z
z

Simultaneous heavy rainfall in the catchment

areas of Ganges, Brambhaputra and Meghna
Temperature rise and excessive rainfall
Landslide and debris flow
High tide twice a day in the Bay of Bengal
Strong monsoon wind
Tsunami due to earthquake
Strong Al- Nino current
3

Examples of some recent floods in

Bangladesh
Cause
Event
Natural

Manmade

Duration
days

. Deforestation
. Huge melting of
snow

30

. Simultaneous Heavy
rainfall

. Deforestation

14

. Simultaneous Heavy
rainfall
1998 flood
. Tsunami
. Al-Nino

. Deforestation

70

. Deforestation
. Debris flow

21

1987 flood . Heavy rainfall

1988 flood

2004 flood

. Heavy rainfall
. Landslide dam

Tidal Surge/Tsunami
In 1998 tsunami caused by earthquake
near Andaman Islands in Bay of Bengal
prolonged flood duration in Bangladesh
z December 2004 tsunami near Sumatra
traveled in east-west direction and as such
Bangladesh escaped major disaster. Had
the tsunami traveled in the north direction
there would have been catastrophe in
Bangladesh.
z

Cyclone
1970 Cyclone
z Storm surge height = 8m
z People killed = 500,000
z Livestock perished: More than a million
z Fishing boats destroyed: More than 60%
1991 Cyclone
z Storm surge height = 6m
z People killed = 140,000
z Livestock perished: More than a million
z Many Fishing boats destroyed

Diversion of Bangladesh Water by India

54 cross border rivers carry water to
Bangladesh from China, Nepal, Bhutan and
India
Out of total surface water in Bangladesh
- Brahmaputra contributes = 51 %
- Ganges contributes
= 28 %
- Meghna contributes
= 14%
93%
= 93%
Rainfall within Bangladesh contributes = 7 %
100%
10

11

Normal Flood and River Flow

Normal flood and river flow are essential
-To push back tidal sea water that enters inland
-To recharge groundwater which depletes 5 m/year
z

z
z
z

Recharge takes place

By normal flooding = 4 metre
By local rainfall
= 1 metre
Production of Aman paddy which is 20% of total rice
For maintaining fish habitat, bio-diversity, navigation
Supplying water for drinking household use, etc.
12

Indian Projects for Water Diversion

India has already diverted water of 34 crossborder rivers of 54 rivers
z By Farakka Barrage and Inter Basin River
Linking Project India plans to divert all
Ganges water both during rainy and dry
seasons
z India plans to construct a dam near Dhubri in
Assam to divert all Brahmaputra water under
Inter Basin River Linking Project
z India has started construction of a dam at
Tipaimukh upstream of Meghna river in India
which will cut off major flow of the Meghna
river
z

13

14

Indian Projects (Continued).....

As a result of diversion of water by India
z Sea water will enter deep inside
Bangladesh and gradually turn Bangladesh
into desert due to salinity effect
z Surface and groundwater will not be
available for drinking, household use,
irrigation, fisheries, livestock, industrial use
and for other purposes
z Vegetation, bio-diversity, environment and
ecological balance will be destroyed
z Natural fish habitat will be destroyed
z Plunge entire nation into poverty, hunger.
15

Fronts of Disaster Management Plan

16

Disaster Management Plan

Following Disaster Management Plan is
proposed for Bangladesh in the
following 3 fronts
1. Outside Bangladesh/Himalayan Front
z There should be regional cooperation
between all riparian countries namely
China, Nepal, Bhutan, India and
Bangladesh. There should be political
agreement first. Reservoirs can be
created in The Himalayas to store
excess flood water and release it during
drought.
17

Disaster Management Plan (Continued)

z

Water may be shared among all riparian

countries by signing a treaty in spirit of
regional cooperation. Indus Basin Treaty
between India and Pakistan, Mekong River
Commission, Danube river water sharing
project among 11 European countries may
be taken as examples.

UN Charter, Helsinki Convention and other

International laws must be honoured
18

Disaster Management Plan (continued)

Within Bangladesh/Domestic Front
z Quick Drainage of Flood Water: Roads,
railways, habitations and other infrastructures
should not obstruct free flow of flood water.
z Integrated Flood Drainage Channel: To
facilitate drainage of flood water an integrated
channel network is to be developed by
deepening the rivers. Dredging, explosives
and river training works may be used.
z This will require both mathematical and
physical model study. BUET and RRI can work
jointly.
19

Disaster Management Plan (continued)

Protection of Major Cities and Vital Facilities
z Capital Dhaka is to be provided full
protection by immediately constructing
embankment along eastern periphery.
z All big industrial areas are to be protected.
z Airports are to be protected
z All highways and roads connecting districts
with Upazila are to be raised above HFL
z All railways are to be raised above HFL
z Power substation, water supply facilities
godowns, etc are to protected
z Community participation and local initiative
are vital

20

Disaster Management Plan (continued)

Protection of Major Cities (continued)
z

Flood markers showing the highest flood level

(HFL) are to be installed for using as reference
points for development. One ward may be
selected as pilot scheme and flood markers
installed by DMB and BWDB.
For protection against earthquake hazard all
buildings and structures to be constructed strong
as per codes. Sufficient open space is to be
provided in each locality
Action Plans for Emergency Preparedness and
Emergency Response are to be prepared for
each ward with community participation. To start
with a flood prone ward can be selected as a
model for such purpose.

21

Damage of LGED Rural Infrastructures by

2004 Flood
(Reference: The Bangladesh Observer, 10 August 2004)

Damaged
z Roads: 16,135 km
z Bridges: 21,691 meter
z Growth Centres: 231 Nos
z Primary Schools: 17,686 Nos
z Cross Dam: 301.22 km
z Total cost of Damage = Tk 2000 crore
z Estimated Time of repair = 3 years
22

Disaster Management Plan (continued)

Disaster Management for Rural Areas
z

z
z

z
z
z
z

Flood level markers are to be established. At

least one Upazila may be selected as pilot
scheme for installing flood markers.
Growth Centres are to be raised above HFL.
Rural industries, artisans, livestock, poultry,
pond fisheries, etc should be safe against
flooding.
Ensure safe drinking water.
Control spread of disease and epidemic.
Schools to be expanded upwards.
Road connecting UP Office with Upazila
should be raised above HFL to ensure
movement of people and goods throughout
the year

23

Flood Level Marker

24

Disaster Mment for Rural Areas (contd.)

z

In the flood plain vulnerable clustered

homesteads are to be protected by constructing
ring bundhs.
To protect against wind storm rural houses are to
be strengthened by prefabricated RCC pillars and
wooden bracings.
Resiliency of poor people should be increased by
increasing their income and improving standard of
living through massive poverty alleviation
programmes.
Develop appropriate Coping Mechanism through
local initiative as local community should be the
first to attend disaster victims.
25

Coastal Belt/Sea Front Problems

High tide twice a day retards flood water
drainage.
z Tsunami may cause widespread
devastation and may also block flood
water drainage.
z Al-Nino tidal surge blocks river discharge.
z Global warming raises sea water level.
One metre rise will inundate 16% of total
area of Bangladesh affecting about 20
million people.
z Cyclonic surge causes tremendous loss of
lives and properties.
z

26

Sea Front Opportunity

Bay Cross Dam
A dam constructed from Coxs Bazar to Patuakhali
across Bay of Bengal will have following benefits.
z Protect against cyclonic surge
z Protect against tsunami and tidal surge
z Protect against sea level rise due to global
warming
z Retain water in river network during dry season
z Prevent sea water salinity intrusion
z The rivers in Bangladesh carry about 2 billion
tons of sediment every year which will be trapped
by Bay Cross Dam and 25000 sq km land will be
reclaimed in 30 years time.
27

28

Sea Front Opportunity (continued)

Bay Cross Dam Project Realization Plan
z Preparation of Project Concept Paper (PCP)
z Establishment of Bay Cross Dam Authority
z Feasibility Study Preliminary
z Model Study
z
z

z
z
z
z

Mathematical Model
Physical Model

Geo technical, tidal hydraulics and other

investigations
Environmental impact assessment
Seminar with participation of international
experts
Feasibility Study final

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Sea Front Opportunity (continued)

Bay Cross Dam Project Realization Plan (continued)
z

z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z

Project Implementation
z Phase I (Lower 12m)
z Phase II (Upper 12m)
Lining up financial support
Construction of phase I
Monitoring and evaluation
Updating of feasibility study
Prepare construction plan for phase II
Construction of phase II
Monitoring, evaluation and follow-up activities
Operation and maintenance.
30

Sea Front Opportunity (continued)

Vital Statistics of Bay Cross Dam
Length =100 miles (160 km)
z Height = 24 m
z Sea depth = 20 m
z Main construction material = Boulders
z Period of Implementation = 30 years
z Land Reclamation = 25,000 sq. km
z

31

32

Conclusion
z DMB

has produced excellent

Disaster Management guidelines. If
these guidelines are followed loss
of lives and properties can be
greatly reduced. But DMB has only
one office which is located in
Dhaka. DMB should open offices in
all disaster prone Upazilas to
accelerate the implementation of all
disaster management initiatives.
33

Conclusion (continued)
z Cyclone

Preparedness Programme
(CPP) prepared by Bangladesh Red
Crescent Society includes
dissemination of cyclone warning,
evacuating people to the shelters,
services to the injured and post
disaster rehabilitation, etc. Role of
GOB and DMB in CPP is to be
clearly specified.
34

Conclusion (continued)
z

In addition to Cyclone Shelters

Government may provide interest free
house building loans to private families
for constructing houses of 2 to 3
stories.

Abnormal or high flood may occur once

in 10 years and the country and people
should be prepared to face it. This does
not mean that all our flood water is to
be diverted elsewhere and Bangladesh
is to be turned into a desert.

35

Conclusion (continued)
Normal flooding which inundates about
20% of total area of Bangladesh is
essential for the following reasons:
z Pushing back saline water into the sea.
z Recharging of groundwater and thereby
ensuring production of HYV rice during
dry season by tube-well irrigation.
z Supplying water for drinking and
household use.
z Supplying water for industrial use.
36

Conclusion (continued)
Reasons (continued)
z Supplying

water for pond fisheries.

z Preventing subsidence of low lying
deltaic plain of Bangladesh.
z Sustaining Aman paddy production.
z Maintaining natural spawning grounds
and fish habitats.
z Maintaining bio-diversity, sustainable
environment and ecological balance.
z Poverty alleviation and improving
quality of life.
37

Conclusion (continued)
Disaster Management Plan and specially
Emergency Preparedness and
Emergency Response should be
included in the school curricula to
prepare our future generations to face
disaster.
z For the long term survival of
Bangladesh immediate steps should be
taken for realization of Bay Cross Dam
Project. At present it may appear like a
dream project, but some day this dream
must come true.
z

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Thank You

39