Dr. Dilip Kumar Saha
Chairman
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission
Dhaka, Bangladesh

FloodFloodDroughtClimate Change and BangladeshThe country is located in the Bengal
Basin, a low-lying very flat delta. About 80
per cent of Bangladesh is floodplains withvery low mean elevation above the sealevel.

The flat topography makes a significant
part of Bangladesh vulnerable to sea levelchange. The active delta and dynamic
morphology complicates the reliable
estimation of vulnerability of tidal
floodplains to sea level rise.

The net sea level rise would result in Inundation of coastal land
 Reduceddrainage
andhence
prolonged flooding due to highbackwater.
 Higher precipitation within GBM basinwould result in greater flood
magnitude and frequency.

Drainage congestions due to higher sea
levels and flooding Reduced fresh water availability Disturbances to morphological processes(mainly in coastal zone)
 Increased intensity of disasters (extremeevents)• Extreme events- increased hazards with potential toincreased disasters– More/intense/frequent
floods/droughts/cyclones/storm surges etc.
• Slow onset / gradual effects leading to disasters– Salinity intrusion, river bank erosion, temperature
variability, erratic precipitation etc.
• Climate Change also has severe social impacts that willcause internal and external migration of displacedcommunity.

 Drought, Floods, Cyclones
likely to exacerbate in future
due to climate change.
 Country still reeling fromdevastation due to Cyclone
Aila (2009).
 Disasterrisk
reduction
strategy need strengthening.

Drought

CycloneStorm surge, salinity

Climate Induced Major Hazards that affectdifferent sectors in BangladeshFlood

Water logging

Bank Erosion

How climate change induced hazards currently affects
agricultural and water sectors in the coast of Bangladesh ?

Vulnerability to LIVELIHOOD• Damages of crops, fisheries
and livestock• No freshwater for crops• Reduced yields• Loss of crops• Reduce crop
production due tosalinity in soil

Cyclone andStormSurge

Late andLack ofRainfall

Tidal surge andSalinity intrusion• Overflows surface
water resources• Lack of freshwater forirrigation• Low level of water inponds and mini ponds• Water quality andquantity• Salinity insurface water

Vulnerability to LIVELIHOOD• Heavy rainfall in shorttime causes damage tocrop.
• Excessive rainfall
submerges the vegetables
and crops for several days.

ExcessiveRainfall

Impacts on
Agricultural
SectorClimateChange• Huge surface runoff• Quality of water
deteriorates

Impacts
on Water
SectorEmbankment breached during Aila (2009)
remains unrepaired and water rushes inside thepolder areas.

Villages are submerged.

People’s Response to Post-Aila Situation;
Internal Migration due to Loss of Livelihoods.

Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan(BCCSAP) 2009
A pro-poor climate change management
strategy, which prioritizes adaptation anddisaster risk reduction, low carbon
development, mitigation and technology
transfer
SIX THEMATIC AREAS:
 Food security, social protection and health Comprehensive disaster management
Infrastructure Research & knowledge management Mitigation & low carbon development
Capacity building & institutional
strengthening- 44 thematic programes developed.
- Implementation of several projects
initiated.

Water and Soil Pollution• Bangladesh receives water: 74% from transboundary, 24%from rainfall & 2% from groundwater.

• Source of pollution: Industrial effluent (textiles, tanneries, pulp
and paper mill, fertilizer), municipal waste, chemical fertilizer& pesticide, oil & lube spillage from sea & river ports.
• Increasing salinity in the coastal regions during dry seasons.
• Agricultural soil contamination with heavy metals through therepeated use of untreated or poorly treated wastewater fromindustrial establishments and application of chemicalfertilizers and pesticides is one of the most severe ecologicalproblems in Bangladesh.

Land Contaminated by Arsenic
It is apparent from the findings ofdifferent researchers that theaverage arsenic (As) content in
Bangladesh soils are less than
10 mg/kg.
The background value of soil As
is much below the average inareas
wheregroundwatercontamination has not beenreportedor
wherethegroundwater is very feeblycontaminated.

Land Contaminated by EffluentsDischarged from the Industries
The Export Processing Zones (EPZ) are
categoricallytheleading
pollution
creators. These industrial units include
cap/accessories/garments; textile/knitting
plastic goods; footwear/leather goods;
metal products; electronic goods; paper
products; chemicals and fertilizers andmiscellaneousproducts.
Industrial
activities discharge untreated or poorly
treated industrial wastewater, effluent andeven sludge into the surrounding
environment that decrease the soil quality
by increasing concentrations of pollutants
such as heavy metals, resulting inadverse effects on macrophytes, soil
fauna and human health.

Background of Air Pollution in Dhaka
ScenarioRapid urbanization
Increased economic activity
High population densityIncreasing number of motor
vehicles and industries
Traffic congestion
Transboundary transport§The most serious pollutant
of concern in Bangladesh,
especially in cities, is theparticulate matter ( PM)