Friday, April 25News That Matters

Tag: bangladesh

Storm Tide Threat Grows Tenfold in Bangladesh as Climate Risks Mount

Storm Tide Threat Grows Tenfold in Bangladesh as Climate Risks Mount

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Bangladesh may face a dramatically different future due to climate change as destructive storm tides a combination of high tides and storm surges are projected to become 10 times more frequent warns a new study published in One Earth. What was once considered a once-in-a-century event could soon strike every decade posing grave risks to Bangladesh’s low-lying, densely populated coast home to nearly eight million people. The study led by researchers including Sai Ravela of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that under high-emissions scenarios the intensification of storms and rising sea levels could significantly increase the frequency and impact of coastal flooding even if the number of cyclones does not rise dramatically. Historically the Bay of Bengal has witn...
Storm Tide Threat Rises 10x for Bangladesh Amid Climate Change, MIT Study Warns

Storm Tide Threat Rises 10x for Bangladesh Amid Climate Change, MIT Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
A groundbreaking study published in One Earth has sounded the alarm for Bangladesh’s vulnerable coastline, revealing that destructive storm tides could occur 10 times more frequently due to climate change. Once considered a once-in-a-century event, these coastal surges could now hit the country every decade, especially under high emission scenarios. A storm tide a deadly mix of storm surge and astronomical tide poses grave flood threats to low-lying coastal regions. Bangladesh’s densely populated mega-delta, home to over 8 million people has long suffered from this dual hazard with historical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal claiming over 140,000 lives in single events. The study, co-authored by Sai Ravela from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) emphasizes that stronger sto...
Extreme Heat Threatens Child Growth in Bangladesh, Study Warns

Extreme Heat Threatens Child Growth in Bangladesh, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
The first 1,000 days of life play a crucial role in shaping a child’s future. But what happens when those days are spent in extreme heat? A new study, Extreme Heat Exposure in the First 1000 Days: Implications for Childhood Stunting in Bangladesh, has found a direct link between rising temperatures and childhood stunting. Despite Bangladesh’s significant progress in reducing stunting from 42% in 2012 to 28% in 2019 climate change now poses a serious threat to these gains. Extreme heat, defined as temperatures exceeding historical norms, disrupts critical biological processes. A mere 1% increase in extreme heat days raises the likelihood of stunting by 56%. Exposure after birth has an even stronger impact 67% compared to 28% for in-utero exposure. Babies born to mothers facing high...
Rising Heat Poses New Threat to Bangladesh’s Fight Against Child Stunting

Rising Heat Poses New Threat to Bangladesh’s Fight Against Child Stunting

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in reducing childhood stunting, cutting rates from 42% in 2012 to 28% in 2019. However™a new less understood threat looms climate change. Could rising temperatures erase years of progress in child health and nutrition? A recent study, Extreme Heat Exposure in the First 1,000 Days: Implications for Childhood Stunting in Bangladesh, has drawn a direct link between heat exposure during early childhood and stunting. It found that a 1% increase in extreme heat days raises the odds of stunting by 56%, with heat exposure after birth having a 67% stronger effect than in utero exposure (28%). How Heat Impacts Child Growth Extreme heat disrupts critical biological processes in both mothers and children: Pregnant women exposed to heat suffer from r...
Mild Earthquake Jolts Dhaka Bangladesh Coastal Regions Feel Stronger Tremors

Mild Earthquake Jolts Dhaka Bangladesh Coastal Regions Feel Stronger Tremors

Breaking News, Disasters
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake was felt in Dhaka and several parts of Bangladesh at 6:40 a.m. on Tuesday. The tremor, originating in the Bay of Bengal near India, had minimal impact in Bangladesh, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Officials from the department’s Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center classified it as a moderate quake, with its epicenter located underwater near West Bengal and Odisha. While the tremors in Bangladesh were mild, coastal districts experienced stronger shaking due to their proximity to the epicenter, which was 501 kilometers away. The earthquake was more intense along the coastal regions of West Bengal and Odisha, where residents reported noticeable tremors. Authorities have not reported any major damages or casualties. From News De...
China Approves Construction of World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra, Sparking Concerns in India and Bangladesh

China Approves Construction of World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra, Sparking Concerns in India and Bangladesh

Breaking News, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks
China has greenlit the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border, raising geopolitical and environmental concerns in downstream nations India and Bangladesh. With an estimated cost of $137 billion, the project will surpass all other infrastructure projects globally, including China’s Three Gorges Dam. The hydropower project, part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, will be built along the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. Located at a massive gorge where the river takes a U-turn into Arunachal Pradesh, the dam will exploit a vertical drop of 2,000 meters over a 50 km stretch to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 300 million people. ...
Remal Cyclone Movement Update: Severe Cyclonic Storm “Remal” Over North Bay of Bengal

Remal Cyclone Movement Update: Severe Cyclonic Storm “Remal” Over North Bay of Bengal

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
The Severe Cyclonic Storm "Remal" (pronounced as "Re-Mal") over the North Bay of Bengal has intensified significantly. As of 0830 hrs IST today, May 26, 2024, the cyclone was centered near latitude 19.8°N and longitude 89.3°E. It is positioned approximately 260 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 310 km south of Mongla (Bangladesh), 240 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), and 280 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal). The storm is currently moving northward at a speed of 7 kmph, with maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kmph gusting up to 110 kmph. Forecast and Expected Impact Movement and Landfall: Remal is expected to continue its northward trajectory, intensifying further. It is predicted to make landfall between Sagar Island (India) and Khepupara ...
Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal Intensifies, Landfall Expected in Bangladesh and West Bengal

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal Intensifies, Landfall Expected in Bangladesh and West Bengal

Breaking News, Disasters
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning as a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into severe cyclonic storm Remal. The storm is anticipated to make landfall on the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal early Sunday morning, May 26, bringing with it heavy rainfall and strong winds. According to the IMD, Cyclone Remal is projected to move northward and then eastward, gaining further intensity over the east-central Bay of Bengal by Saturday morning. It is expected to track towards the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal, with a potential landfall between Sagar Island (India) and Khepupara (Bangladesh) by Saturday night. The forecast indicates wind speeds reaching 110-120 kilometres per hour (kmph) gusting up to 135 kmph at the time of landfall...
Pre-Cyclone Watch: Severe Weather Warnings for West Bengal Coast

Pre-Cyclone Watch: Severe Weather Warnings for West Bengal Coast

Breaking News, Disasters
The depression over the central Bay of Bengal, reported by IMD at 0830 hours IST on 24th May 2024, has moved northeastwards. It is currently centered near latitude 15.5° N and longitude 88.7° E, approximately 730 km south-southwest of Khepupara, Bangladesh, and 750 km south of Canning, West Bengal. This system is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by the morning of 25th May and further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the night of 25th May. It is projected to move northwards, crossing between Sagar Island (India) and Khepupara (Bangladesh) around midnight on 26th May as a severe cyclonic storm indicated by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Heavy Rainfall Predictions Significant rainfall is anticipated across various regions due to the depression: West Benga...
Mild Heatwave Sweeps Across Bangladesh Amid Rising Temperatures

Mild Heatwave Sweeps Across Bangladesh Amid Rising Temperatures

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
As temperatures continue to soar across the country following a period of continuous rains earlier this month, a mild heatwave has gripped over 58 districts, with the potential to spread further in the coming days. The Department of Meteorology has issued a two-day heatwave warning or 'heat alert' in response to the escalating temperatures. Meanwhile, meteorologists have raised concerns about a potential cyclonic formation in the South Bay of Bengal after May 20, with the risk of down pressure in the sea that could intensify into a cyclone. Meteorologist Dr. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallick warned of the likelihood of a cyclone forming in the South Bay of Bengal after the 21st, based on observations from various cyclone models. While the trajectory and intensity of the potential cyclone, ...