Dhara calls for science-based planning and development in harmony with nature to combat floods. Today, Saturday, July 18, at 10:30 am, speakers at the press conference at the National Press Club said that the recent floods are not just a natural disaster; they are the combined result of the increasing impact of climate change as well as unplanned development, encroachment of rivers, canals and water bodies, cutting down mountains and obstructing natural water flow. Therefore, Dharitree Raksha Amara (Dhara) has called for taking a science-based, environmentally friendly and long-term plan to address the root causes of the floods, not just relief.
This call was made at a press conference titled "Fact-based Review of Recent Floods" held at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club on Saturday (July 18). Dhara's co-convener M. S. Siddique presided over the press conference.
The keynote address was delivered by Dhara's member secretary Sharif Jamil and moderated by River Bangla editor and Dhara's member Faisal Ahmed.
In his speech as the president of the press conference, M. S. Siddiqui said that the recent floods were not only due to natural causes; their severity has increased due to the combined effects of unplanned development, filling of rivers and canals, obstruction of water flow and climate change.
He said that Dhara has prepared a review based on field data collection, experiences of affected people, and information from five national newspapers from July 6-16. He called on the government to adopt effective and long-term solutions to deal with the flood situation. He also emphasized on prioritizing national interests over individual interests in flood management.
In his keynote address, Sharif Jamil said that at least 17 districts of the country have been affected by severe floods and waterlogging due to continuous heavy rainfall from July 7 to 12 of this year, hill slopes coming down from upstream and abnormal increase in water levels in transboundary rivers. More than 1 million people have been directly affected by this. About 6 lakh people have been affected in Chittagong, 1 lakh 58 thousand in Cox's Bazar, 1 lakh 8 thousand in Rangamati, 83 thousand 500 in Bandarban and 1 lakh 36 thousand in Kurigram. In addition, thousands of hectares of agricultural land, thousands of fish pens, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been damaged.
He said that this flood is not just the result of heavy rains or hill slopes; the situation has become more dire due to the combined effects of encroachment of rivers, canals and water bodies, reduction in navigability, unplanned road and infrastructure construction, mountain cutting, deforestation and climate change. The Chittagong-Cox's Bazar railway line is largely responsible for the floods and waterlogging that occurred in the three hill districts from 2023 to July 2026. He emphasized on river basin-based integrated planning, modern early warning systems, cooperation in cross-border river management, restoration of rivers and canals, construction of climate-resilient infrastructure and rapid rehabilitation of the affected people.
Jafar Siddique, convener of Amara-Dhara to protect haors, said, “Floods are not a new disaster in Bangladesh. But to reduce the damage, there is no alternative to coordinated preparation from the national to local levels, rapid logistical support, and increasing local capacity.”
Mir Mohammad Ali, a member of Dhara and assistant professor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sanjida Rahman, coordinator of the Chunati Raksha Andolan-Dhara as a representative of the disaster-affected areas, and HM Faridul Alam Shaheen, co-convener of Cox’s Bazar Dhara, also spoke at the press conference.
He highlighted the overall flood situation and strategic problems in Cox’s Bazar district. He mentioned the problems with the drainage of flood water due to the filling of rivers and canals due to cutting down mountains, deforestation, and sand extraction. He also mentioned that unplanned development and monopoly shrimp farming by destroying mangrove forests are responsible for various natural disasters.
And Badrunnahar Koli, a member of Matamuhuri Dhara, will be present to share practical experiences and observations from the field.
The press conference called on the government and related organizations to adopt integrated river basin-based plans, restore natural water flows, ensure environmentally friendly development, and formulate long-term flood management strategies taking into account the reality of climate change.
Dhara leaders, representatives of environmental movements, researchers, development workers, and journalists from various print, electronic, and online media were present at the press conference.
