Climate Change Parameters Relating to Earthquake Disasters and Government Management in Bangladesh

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Climate Change Parameters Relating to Earthquake Disasters and Government Management in Bangladesh

Shahid Motaher Hossan*1, Md. Shah Kamal2

Joint Secretary (Retd.)1, Senior Secretary2
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Abstract– Bangladesh is one of the most disasters prone areas of the world. Huge number of natural as well as manmade environmental disaster hit the country in the previous years. This paper deals with the definition of a methodological framework consistent with the need and scope of environmental disaster, the adoption of contemporary mitigation plans and risk management policies. The research paper also illustrates temporal and spatial distribution of past disasters, elaboration of some events and categorization of affected targets at several places. Finally the research paper establishes an aspect of disasters caused by dangerous earthquake phenomenon and those endangered by interrelated human-nature induced factors, such as deforestation, global climate change and hill cutting etc in the context of Bangladesh. The paper also makes an attempt to depict how ‘nature’ and the natural processes are inextricably bound together in hazardous situations.

Keywords— Climate change, earthquake, disasters, cyclones, environmental disaster.

I. INTRODUCTION

Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Bangladesh is exposed to floods and cyclones, and the risk of other disasters such as drought, earthquakes, and tornados is increasing. Bangladesh ranks 5th in the World Risk Index as it are frequently affected by storms and floods. The impacts are becoming more visible at the local level, with greater impacts on poor and vulnerable communities (Selmi Aitsi-A. & Murray V., (2015). Cyclone, flood, landslides, river erosion as well as climate induced hazards are the frequent disastrous phenomena in the country. The geographical location of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal leaves the country susceptible to significant climate change impacts that exacerbate environmental hazards. Bangladesh ranks as the 8th most populated country in the world at 1,237.51 persons per square km growing at an estimated rate of 1.59% per year. This very high density exacerbates the impact of localized disasters. Continuing population growth and environmental degradation could further exacerbate the intensity of disasters in the future, contributing to a significant increase in humanitarian needs (Bertrand Albala-J. M., (2004-ECHO 2016).