An Overview of Drought Hazards and Prospective Mitigation Approach in Bangladesh
M. A. Rakib *
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh
M. S. Akter
Department of Statistics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Mehjabin Elahi
Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Ali
Department of Civil Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Md. Babul Hossain
Department of Zoology, Rangpur Government College, Rangpur, Bangladesh
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Drought is the most formidable disaster frequently reoccurring in most regions of Bangladesh. It is a natural slow onset hazard which evolves unnoticed and enhancing due to the onslaught of global climate change. It is characterized with the long periods of dryness and shortage of water supply cumulatively impacting adversely on the socioeconomic development of the people and their properties. It is also defined as atmospheric / meteorological, hydrological and agricultural conditions which are closely related, in which meteorological is the source of the rest. Long term instability of temperature and rainfall pattern leads to local and regional drought hazards which impact productive sector failure and worsen socio-economic status. Agricultural activities which are the foundations of the socioeconomic aspect of Bangladesh suffer the impacts of drought most. It is due to the absence of solid understanding of the causes of drought in Bangladesh, the impacts of drought on the agriculture and socioeconomic life of Bangladesh, and the available of opportunities which could have been exploited to obtain mitigation of the adverse impacts of drought in Bangladesh and in similar conditions elsewhere. This study dwelt on the causes and impacts of drought on the agriculture and socioeconomic life of Bangladesh, and the opportunities which could be exploited to obtain their most effective mitigation and adaptation to. Aim is to minimize the impact of drought for enhanced sustainability of growth in the agricultural sector and socioeconomic life of Bangladesh and other countries in similar conditions.
Keywords: Drought hazards, temperature and rainfall, agricultural activities, social crisis, mitigation measure and sustainable development