Recently and unfortunately, floods have affected Bangladeshi population severely, the current flood situation has marooned hundreds of thousands of people and lead to many casualties including child fatalities. It has been compounded by incidences in the neighboring country of India where water gates were opened to drain floods that affected some parts of Tripura. This action of the North eastern state has had a downstream impact on the Bangladesh increasing water level and aggravating the flood situation in this country though the intention was to safeguard own local regions.
The resultant flooding has not only caused damage and detriment but has also attracted questions concerning long term impacts relating to regional water management as well as policies on management of water resources by neighboring countries. The experience actually underlines the fact of the necessity of creating integrated programs englobing hydrological aspects and recognising interconnectivity of the water reserves within the international framework to avoid the worsening of such catastrophes in the further.
Such a tragedy should help to remind us of the appropriate procedures in the usage of common natural resources, and the price people pay when those measures are not administered correctly. From the current and previous actions, it is now important for both countries to start talking and finding long-term strategies that will help in restoring the households and entities impacted by the attack.
MD. Roman Sarkar