Despite it being an annual occurrence, Bangladesh is yet to find a reliable method to prevent the floods that plague numerous regions during monsoon season. Several regions across the country are inundated and left to deal with subsequent dilemmas every year.
While weather conditions have been somewhat unpredictable this year, certain areas still stand the risk of flooding, and require protection from another round of substantial damage.
The weather department reported on Saturday that low-lying regions and surrounding areas in coastal districts are at risk of being flooded by tidal surges. This can be attributed to the steep pressure gradient prevailing over the North Bay, causing strong winds and overall squally weather.
The warning issued by authorities, while certainly an advantage, does not by any means avert the risk. Floods have been a persistent predicament for the country since the very beginning, and not planning ahead has, historically, led to consequent disasters.
Just months ago we witnessed devastating floods in Sylhet, the effects of which turned the lives of thousands upside down. If we continue to treat a major natural threat as such with the carelessness we have shown, the people residing in these flood-prone areas will also continue to suffer irreversible damage to their lives and livelihoods.
We are equipped with the knowledge and resources necessary to limit the adverse impacts of the annual floods: Why are we not putting those to use?
This kind of negligence is unacceptable. The authorities must take immediate measures to prevent a familiar phenomenon from causing any more catastrophes -- not just this time around, but also ahead of next season.