মার্চের দিনগুলি

Composition : Floods in Bangladesh

Floods in Bangladesh

↬ Natural / National Calamities of Bangladesh


Flood is a natural calamity which occurs almost every year in our country. It is almost an annual experience with the people living in riverine districts.

Causes of flood we are many. In our country, it is generally caused by excessive rainfall. In the rainy season the water of many rivers overflows the banks and as a result fields, roads and houses go under water. This is called flood. It may also be caused by tidal waves from the sea. Lack of proper drainage may be the cause of temporary flood in a particular area.

Flood causes immense loss to life and property. It destroys crops, washes away houses of the people and badly damages the communication system. Various diseases may be the cause of temporary flood in a particular area.

Flood causes immense loss to life and property. It destroys crops, washes away houses of the people and badly damages the communication system. Various diseases like cholera and typhoid may break out in epidemic form in the wake of flood. A flood causes scarcity of food. It washes away the waste matter. It also fertilizes the soil by depositing silt on it.

Whenever flood occurs in a particular area, it is the duty of the government and the people to come forward with all possible help. Food-stuff should be distributed free among the flood-victims. Free medical aid should be given to all to prevent possible epidemic. Loans should be given to them on liberal terms.

But prevention is better than cure. What is really necessary is to prevent the recurrence (পুনরাবৃত্তি) of terrible flood as far as practicable.

The flood in Bangladesh in 1954, 1956, 1974, 1980, 1987 and 1988 caused great havoc. They flooded a large area. Even train links were closed which caused a great inconvenience to people. But floods in 1998 was the most unprecedented (অভূত পুর্ব) considering its duration and extent of damage.

The government should adopt flood control measures in order to protect the country from floods which occur every year.


Same composition collected from another book


Blessed with the gifts of modern science, man is puffed up with proud. In his pride of power, he proclaims himself the Lord of land, air, and water and there is none to dispute his right. To teach him a good lesson nature appears before him “red in tooth and claw.” 

Bangladesh is a low land. It has many rivers. She is also in the monsoon area. It rains heavily during the monsoon period. So floods are very common in our country. Almost every year flood visits our country. 

In the remote past, it was believed that flood is the outcome of God’s wrath upon man. When people of a particular area committed sin, God punished them by sending floods in that area. With the growth of scientific knowledge, man has however come to realize that floods are caused by heavy rains. Rivers can not hook the waters. As a result they overflow their banks and cause flood. Flood is caused by some other reasons. Sometimes, there is heavy rush of water from the mountain through our rivers. Sudden melting of snow or tidal bores causes flood. 

The havoc done by flood beggars description. It causes a heavy damage to our life and properties. Houses are destroyed, cattle are washed away, crops are greatly damaged and trees are uprooted. The weak, the invalid and the children meet watery grave. The strong climb up the trees or house tops and save themselves. Thousands of people become homeless or shelterless. They remain without food for many days on housetops or on the branches of trees. All communications from the outside world is cut off. Then people move by boats. 

The flood of 1988 broke the records of the past. Never before did water level rise so high nor was the duration so long. The whole went under water. All communication was cut off. Normal activities were stopped for a long time. Many people became homeless. The miseries of the affected people knew no bounds. Crops were greatly damaged. Herds of cattle were washed away. Thousands of people met watery grave. In a word, the havoc was so great that it took a long time to repair the loss. 

But the after effect of floods are more serious. Famine breaks out in the flood-affected areas and many people die for want of food. the prices of all necessary things go up. Many dangerous diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery etc. break out in an epidemic form. The scarcity of good drinking water causes great suffering. It ruins the economy of a country. 

Flood do a little good to man. During floods, our rivers carry a great deal of earth and mud which we call silt. This silt makes the land fertile. As a result, many kinds of crops grow in plenty. Floods also carry away waste matters. 

During and after the flood the relief work should go on. Otherwise, the miseries to the affected people will increase. During the flood government and some other voluntary organizations come forward to help the flood-affected people. Relief camps are opened. People get food, clothes and other necessary things there. The affected people should be sheltered and fed for a long time. Loans should be given them so that they could again run their family. 

Proper steps should be taken to control floods. All the rivers should be re-excavated and good drainage system should be introduced. A large number of sluices and outlets should be made for the easy passing of rainwater.


Same composition collected from another book


Bangladesh is a riverine (রিভারাইন - নদীমাতৃক) country. So, floods visit almost every year in the country. Sometimes, they become very serious (সিরিয়াস - মারাত্মক) and cause great harm to us. 

The most common cause of floods in Bangladesh is heavy rainfall (হেভি রেইন্‌ফল – প্রবল বৃষ্টিপাত). Sometimes, the sudden melting of snow or tidal waves (ওয়েভ্‌স্‌ - ঢেউ) or cyclone. makes the rivers overflow and causes floods. 

Floods cause a great havoc (হ্যাবক্‌ - ব্যাপক ধ্বংস) in Bangladesh. They damage crops, houses and cattle are washed away. Trees are uprooted, fields and roads go underwater. Communication (যাতায়াত ব্যবস্থা) is cut off. Most of the villagers become shelterless (সেল্টারলেস্ - আশ্রয়হীন). 

Floods have started occurring in Bangladesh since 1954. In that year, roads, houses, and crops went under water. People suffered greatly. Severe floods also visited the country in 1974, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1998, 2004. Among them, the flood of 1998 was the severest. Nearly one third of the country remained under water for about five months. It continued till the end of the autumn season. 

Famine (ফ্যামিন - দুর্ভিক্ষ) comes in after the flood. People die of starvation (স্টারভেশন - অনাহারে). Scarcity (স্কারসিটি - দুষ্প্রাপ্যতা) of pure drinking water is found everywhere. As a result, diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery (আমাশয়) break out in an epidemic form (এপিডেমিক ফর্ম - মহামারীরূপে). 

However, flood brings in silt. It fertilizer our lands. Flood sweeps away (সুইপ্‌স্‌ অ্যাওয়ে – ভাসিয়ে নেয়) wastage (ওয়েসটেজ – অপ্রয়োজনীয় দ্রব্য), dirty and filthy substances, rubbish and germs of diseases. But its demerits outweigh the merits. 

Steps should be taken to check flood. Flood can be controlled by dredging (ড্রেজিং – খনন করা) river beds, by digging canals and by creating embankments (ইম্‌ব্যাংকমেন্টস - বাঁধ). 

Flood is one of the natural calamities (ক্যালামিটিজ - দুর্যোগ) in Bangladesh. It causes wide-spread havoc. So, our government has given priority (প্রায়োরিটি - প্রাধান্য) to flood control schemes. We appreciate it.


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