Disaster and Climate Change
1. Community Based Risk Assessment in the Coastal Region of
Bangladesh: A Case Study from Rampal, Bagerhat
Imtiaz Ahmad, Md. Hashan Ali, Kaniz Fatema and Sk. Adnan Islam
Inclusivity brings the issues of the most vulnerable into limelight to
understand the nature, pattern and severity of the population who requires
Target Oriented Approach to deal with. This paper presents community
based framework to assess the risk and the adaptation practice as response
to natural disasters and climate change. Rampal, Bagerhat was selected as
the study area. A qualitative research approach was used in the study. Data
were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. A historical change-
chronology was constructed using focus group discussions and
questionnaire survey along with the tools like problem census, seasonal
calendar, livelihoods mapping, problem matrix and problem scoring to
identify and prioritize the risks faced by the community. The community’s
experience suggests risks are shifting along with prolongation of hydro-
meteorological events and its irregularity is threatening adaptation
capacities as it is affecting the sensitivity and production of the ecosystem of
the region. Government and researchers need to understand the nature of
community adaptation and perception of climate change if we want to stride
forward to negotiate climate change in the country.
2. Water logging and sufferings of Antaja communities in Satkhira
Lipika Biswas, Bhumija Foundation, Satkhira
During 1960s, construction of dam project was implemented to proterct
the coastal areas from the effects of salinity. Since then the water carried
sediment to the banks of rivers, which gradually filled in the river and caused
water logging. Such a village is Thanpur under Tala upazila of Shatkhira
district. This research aims to find out the ways out and advocacy initiatives
to lessen the loss and damage of the goods and lives of dalit people living in
water logging areas. The study selected 100 families randomly and collected
data through questionnaire survey, FGD and case study. Findings of study
show that 79% people can identify water logging as a result of humanmade
intervention. But 21% people consider it as a natural flood. But most of the
people claim that water logging is natural. Water logging damages not only
crops but livestock, fish, vegetation, homes and so on. As the homes are
affected, the families take shelter on roadsides school/college premises. But
several difficulties arise at the shelters among which problems of drinking
water, sanitation, cooking, living, movement and bathing problems are the
04 4th National Knowledge Convention