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Environment Development Relationship - Bangladesh

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• published: 01 Jul 2013
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Bangladesh is a country of natural beauty. The symbolic Red & Green color of our flag has correctly painted the lushness of this country. One of the most highly populated and smallest countries of the world Bangladesh is blessed with six-seasons; Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Late Autumn, Winter and Spring. This small country is located at the verge of the Bay-of-Bengal and its lands are highly productive with silt carried in by numerous flowing rivers. Bangladesh is globally recognized for its abundance of natural resources, its wildlife enriched biodiversity, its "World Heritage Sites" and "Ramsar Sites". About 160 million people live in this 1, 47,000 square kilometers country. Since life and livelihood of Bangladeshi people revolve around natural resources, such dense population is undoubtedly upsetting for a small country like Bangladesh. Together with this, changes in climate throughout the world have started to make our life miserable. Despite not emitting as much Greenhouse gases as the developed countries, coastal zone of Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change, where about ¼ (one fourth) of almost 160 million people live. As a result, the glory and richness of our nature is gradually fading away. Our unsustainable and ruthless attitudes toward nature have turned it against us. Living in low plain lands, density of population, poverty and illiteracy have further increased the severity of climate change impacts in coastal area. It is assumed that 1 meter rise in sea-level will inundate almost 15% of the total land of Bangladesh. At least 8 hundred thousand hectare coastal farmland has already been damaged by increased salinity caused by climate change, which resulted in paucity of food and fresh drinking water. Devastation of coastal life by natural catastrophes like- cyclones and tornados has become a regular Phenomenon. Unpredicted river erosions are merging many lands with water. On the other hand, deficiency of rainfall is turning the South-West region into desert in dry season. Coastal people are becoming insolvent due to loss of habitat, crops and other resources and moving into big cities like- Dhaka, Chittagong etc. for their living. As a result, problems like: high density of population, traffic jam, paucity of food and sanitized water, insufficient habitation, unemployment etc. are emerging in the city areas, which in turn damaging our economy and development works. Along with these, Biodiversity of marine and coastal regions of Bangladesh is also being threatened. Climate change has extensive impact on coastal and marine fishery resources. Invaluable corals, various shore animals and plants are gradually going extinct. The impacts of climate change are potentially pushing world's largest mangrove Sundarbans' biodiversity towards extinction. The mitigation Initiatives that have been taken by government and non-government organizations are not enough. So we need national and international collaboration to deal with such environmental calamities. We enthusiastically hope that our country's magnificence will be replenished with your sincerest support. Planner, Director and Anchor: Muqeed Majumdar Babu. Research & Script: Mushfiq Ahmed, Shamim Ahmed. Subtitle: A M M Khairul Anam (Mithu). Voiceover: Khairul Ahasun Shohag. Video Editor: Arif Baharder. Coordinator: Kibria Saroar Roman. Cameraman: Billal Howlader. Panel Producer: Sohel Mazumder.