Should Bangladesh proceed with plans to control its annual river flooding? Why?

Should Bangladesh proceed with plans to control its annual river flooding?

The floods in Bangladesh cause huge amounts of damage and large numbers of people are killed every year. It is therefore likely that development of Bangladesh is retarded producing one of the poorest countries in the world. Controlling the flooding would ensure development, and life could continue without the threat of flooding, but would it ensure future protection from catastrophic flooding? There are presently many arguments on whether the floods in Bangladesh should be controlled. Through this essay I will discuss whether plans to control the flooding in Bangladesh should be adopted and the impacts this may cause.

Bangladesh is one of the lowest lying countries in the world, with 70% of the country lying less than one metre above sea level. As a landform is has been formed from the river delta of two mighty the rivers; the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.

A Map showing major rivers in Bangladesh including...

English: This is a map of the Ganges (orange), Bra...

Relief map of the Brahmaputra system

The floods each year kill many people. Each flood brings devastation and destruction of infrastructure, once the flood is over rebuilding commences and the wait for the next flood begins. Waiting for the flood waters to subside can take up to four months, which is a massively long time in comparison to the growing time of crops which would form probably form the bulk of the Bangladesh economy. In reality Bangladesh should never have been settled upon but it is easy to say this when there is the attractiveness of a fertile land. Unless a plan to stop the flooding is developed Bangladesh will never develop and more advanced countries will continue to leave it behind.

If flood control or management, were to be adopted the control of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra would be of the utmost importance. Because of the sheer volume of water...