Climate Change and Bangladesh

Climate change is the change in earth’s climatic pattern. This can result in an increase of temperatures; which increases the likelihood of the recurrence of devastating natural disasters. Although our planet has seen the significance of climate change in its history, today’s problem is even more alarming due to the rate of change of human activities. Due to increasing concentrations of Green house gases, our climate is expected to change even more in the coming decades (Climate Change Cell).

Bangladesh, a country located in South Asia is the most affected country by climate change in the world (Aneki). This climate change has a huge impact on the country’s agriculture, infrastructure, and way of life. This is mainly because of the geographical location of the country, making it highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Bangladesh has a flat, low lying landscape, and lack of institutional setup. Climate change is becoming a very crucial issue to its citizens and government of Bangladesh. More than 80% of the land is prone to flooding (Denissen). About two thirds of Bangladesh’s population is engaged in agriculture; so climate change will affect these farmers in a bad way.

These natural disasters bring floods, cyclones, storms, extreme temperature and drought into the country (Denissen). Mostly, the Northern regions of Bangladesh suffer due to extreme temperature problem.

The World Bank warns Bangladesh of suffering climate change the worst by the year 2100. The report estimates that the sea level will rise by 3 feet. This will cause huge flooding, and the falling of crops in the country (Hasan). It is also mentioned that this will cause poverty and inflation (Hasan).

Rebecca Sultan, a woman living near the Bay of Bengal, has been shattered by climate change twice in one year. Firstly, a Cyclone of 140mph wind ripped through her village. This disaster killed about 6,000 people, flattening their houses and crops, and devastated the lives of millions, including Sultan’s (The Guardian). The second Cyclone hit the Bay 18 months later, but this one was even worse. Cyclone Aili tore in with flash floods, salt water, and torrential rains (The Guardian). “We know we must live with climate change and are trying to adapt," said Sultan (The Guardian).

Storms like this happened once every 25 years. But these two disasters made history change. These super cyclones have convinced villagers and the government that Bangladesh is at danger.

Mr. Atiq Rahman, the director of Bangladesh Centre Studies said, “There will be more droughts in the North.