The country of Bangladesh experienced severe flooding

between July and September 1998 caused by excess water in

the major rivers which flow through Bangladesh.

Flooding in Bangladesh is normal with about one third flooded

each year. This is good as it allows the farmers to fish, a
valuable source of protein, (fish provide 80% of the animal
protein in Bangladesh) and the rich silt deposited adds fresh
nutrients and is good for agriculture, (farming).

The flooding in July and August was caused by heavy intense

monsoon rainfall accompanied by snowmelt from the Himalayas.
This is when the water from melted snow adds to the amount
of water in the river.
The population is large, 144 million. In 1950 the population was
only 42 million and has therefore nearly tripled in the last half
century

People in Bangladesh do not have enough access to healthcare,

and there is only 1 doctor per 12500 people! Education is not
seen as very important, with only 36% of people being able to
read and write.

Overall, it will cost $3 Billion, (that’s £175000000000!!), to

repair all the damage that the floods have done to the
environment and the economy.

After the floods, it was seen that just less than 80% of the
country was under water! This is because Bangladesh is an
extremely flat country, which has been made by the deposits
of slit from its 3 main rivers, The Ganges, The Bramaphutra
and The Megha.
Most of the population (82%) live in the countryside and there
are relatively few towns with over 100.000 inhabitants and only
2 cities with over a million people, these are the capital Dhaka
(6.1m) and Chittagong (2m). Agriculture employs 59% of the
population and is the main industry.

Unfortunately, the floods left 3000 dead, 21 million

Homes destroyed, and left Bangladesh with a repair
Cost of over $3 billion!

This picture shows the Monsoon weather system that hits

Bangladesh every year around July/August time. In 1998, it
was particularly strong, meaning that more and more water
reached the rivers.

Bangladesh has a very low life expectancy, with most men and
women only expected to live until they are 56! This is due to
the poor conditions they live in due to the geography of the
land.
 This picture shows the main industry in Bangladesh, farming,
being affected by the floods of 1998 Rice and cattle are the
main sources of income for the farmers.

To help water, (irrigate) the crops, water was taken from

the groundwater source, meaning that floodwaters were
allowed to flow more freely.

The average person in Bangladesh lives on only $240 a year,

compared to the UK, where the average person lives on
$18,500 a year.

Because of the large population in Bangladesh, disease from

the floods spread quickly amongst the poorest areas, diseases
such as diarrhoea and dysentery, as well as cholera.
 With an ever increasing population, Bangladesh
began to build more and more cities to house all
these people. Unfortunately, this means that there
will be more concrete, tarmac and buildings. Water,
as we know, will not infiltrate these surfaces, and
cause an increase in surface run off.

Bangladesh is an extremely flat country, which has been made

by the deposits of slit from its 3 main rivers. Over the years,
people began to build upon these areas called floodplains. This
means that not only is the whole country on a floodplain, it is
also very very flat, just 5m above sea level!!

The nation of Bangladesh is relatively young having

only existed as an independent country since 1971