Bangladesh faces up to climate change
10 September 2008
A school provides shelter
Abul Hussain has been headmaster of the primary school in Munshiganj, Satkhira,
for 12 years. Four years ago, the Government built a cyclone shelter in the
village and Abul was put in charge of it. In cyclone-free times, the
building is used as a school, attended by around 200 pupils.
"We've had two cyclones since the shelter was built," says Abul. "On the night
of Cyclone Sidr, we heard the warning on the radio at 10pm. Nowadays, there are
radios in every home. People can listen to weather reports all the time and they
are informed about when they need to go to the shelter.
"I opened the doors of the shelter and about 5,000 local residents came here. It
was full. People were on all the floors and some even went on the roof because
there was no more room for them and it was the only shelter for the region.
"This shelter makes a real difference. And it definitely saves lives. People can
come here at times of natural calamity. It gives them security of life. During
the 1988 cyclone, when more than 5,000 people lost their lives, things were very
different. We saw dead bodies floating in the river water – animals like tigers
and deer all died in such large numbers.
"If there's no cyclone shelter, people don’t know where to go and they
always feel insecure.
"Many
more cyclone shelters like this should be constructed along the coastal belt.
Because we live on the sea-shore, cyclones and tidal surges are very likely to
happen here." There are now 2,100 cyclone shelters along the coast of
Bangladesh.
Like many other Bangladeshis, Abul has seen with his own eyes major changes in
climate in recent years. "Previously we had six seasons," he says, "but now I can’t
feel six separate seasons any more. The temperature has gone up in summer and
it's colder in winter.
"If we care about the environment, we should plant more trees. Nationally, we
should make integrated efforts to tackle the situation, and internationally, we
should seek their help. Immediate action must be taken to stop further
deterioration in the environment for the sake of the nation – and for the future
of our children."
Links
- Bangladesh country profile
- How we fight poverty: Climate
- Degrees of separation: Poverty and climate change
