Forecasting Floods and Fighting Climate Change: Bangladesh Eyes UK Weather Data
The Government of Bangladesh is seeking high-resolution weather data from the UK Met Office to strengthen early flood forecasting systems, while also pursuing a shift away from fossil fuels to mitigate climate change, according to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
She made the remarks on Sunday afternoon while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Flood Hazards in Sylhet Region: Problems and Way Forward” held at the Probashi Auditorium of the Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Eskaton. The event was organized by the Jalalabad Officers Association.
“We must enhance our preparedness and ensure accurate early flood warnings,” said Rizwana Hasan. “For that, we need to develop several aspects of our system. We can’t afford delays in empowering our own institutions. That’s why we are in talks with the UK Met Office, so they can support us with site-specific flood forecasts and grant access to their high-resolution data,” she explained. “That would significantly help us bridge our current gaps.”
She further stated, “Based on ongoing discussions, it seems likely we will gain access to their data through a partnership arrangement. That will be a major step forward in strengthening our flood preparedness.”
Addressing flood challenges in Sylhet, she acknowledged both the risks and ecological importance of floods. “Sylhet suffers from both river erosion and flooding. While floods pose challenges, they also play a vital role in land fertility in an active delta like ours by bringing nutrient-rich silt. The real problem arises when the floods exceed our management capacity.”
“Floods have always occurred and will continue to occur. We can’t prevent floods entirely, especially in a tectonically active delta. Climate change is intensifying these issues. While we may not be able to stop floods, we must reduce our contribution to climate change through control over fossil fuel use and other sources,” she noted.
Rizwana Hasan also announced that a preliminary approval has been given for a flood and water management project in the Surma-Kushiyara region for the period 2025–2028, with an estimated budget of Tk 1,042 crore. Additionally, a separate project targeting the haor areas of Sunamganj has been proposed for the same period with a budget of Tk 2,064 crore. She invited public opinion and suggestions on both initiatives.
The Advisor added that the Haor Development Board has been instructed to prepare a tourism regulation guideline and identify boundaries for key wetlands such as Tanguar Haor and Hakaluki Haor. The directive includes decisions on swamp forest creation, land leasing restrictions, and protection against industrial encroachment in privately owned haor lands.
She also revealed that an initiative has begun to identify and reclaim 11 rivers—one from each administrative division and including the Bakkhali River in Cox’s Bazar—from illegal occupation and pollution. “If we can begin restoration of even one river during our tenure, it will serve as a model. We aim to leave behind the groundwork for restoring the others,” she asserted.
The seminar featured special guests including Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Manabzamin. The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Md. Abdur Rob, former professor at the University of Dhaka and Acting Vice-Chancellor of Manarat International University.
Additional Secretary Zafrur Reza Chowdhury gave the welcome address. Technical discussions on flood risks in the Sylhet region were presented by Dr. Mashfiqus Salehin and Professor Dr. Mohammad Faizul Islam Chowdhury from BUET’s Institute of Water and Flood Management. The seminar was chaired by renowned physician Professor Dr. Md. Abdullah.
At the event’s conclusion, the new executive committee of the Jalalabad Officers Association was announced for the next two years, with Abdun Naser Khan, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, as President and Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury as General Secretary.
