Bangladesh stands out as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and catastrophic weather occurrences on a global scale. Droughts, heavy rains, floods, cyclones, and sea-level rise are becoming more common and severe, posing considerable dangers to the country’s population and ecology. Bangladesh’s specific geographical characteristics and location enhance this vulnerability.
Source: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council
According to climate scientists, extreme climate events will continue to intensify and impact both the environment and population dynamics, including factors like mortality, migration, and fertility. The consequences of these events are already evident, with more than 11,000 extreme weather events causing the loss of over 475,000 lives and US$ 2.56 trillion globally between 2000 and 2019.
In the Climate Risk Index 2021, Bangladesh ranked seventh among the top ten countries most affected by climate-related events between 2000 and 2019. The country experienced 185 climate-related events during this period, resulting in significant economic losses. These events have a direct impact on the population, particularly in terms of mortality, fertility, and migration patterns.
To tackle the regional disparities caused by these extreme climate events, disaster risk reduction and family planning programs play a crucial role. Bangladesh has made significant progress in developing comprehensive disaster response strategies and frameworks to reduce disaster losses to human life and property. The government has implemented programs like the National Plan for Disaster Management, Standing Orders on Disasters, Disaster Management Act, and National Disaster Management Policy. These programs aim to involve local communities and facilitate disaster risk reduction training, risk-reduction action plans, evacuation processes, and hazard vulnerability indicators.
In addition to disaster risk reduction, family planning programs have played a significant role in Bangladesh. The country has witnessed a steady increase in contraceptive prevalence rates, with 62 percent of currently married women of reproductive age using a contraceptive method. The government, along with NGOs like BRAC Bangladesh and the International Center for Diarrheal Diseases Research, has been actively involved in formulating health programs and providing reproductive health services in rural areas.
However, there are significant regional disparities in under-five mortality, total fertility, and contraceptive use across Bangladesh’s administrative divisions and districts. Some divisions have achieved replacement-level fertility, while others have higher fertility rates. Similarly, contraceptive prevalence rates vary across districts, with some districts still lacking adequate access and utilization of contraception.
Source: Author’s own
Addressing these regional disparities requires a comprehensive approach that combines disaster risk reduction and family planning programs. By strengthening service delivery, improving coordination, and focusing on the most vulnerable areas, these programs can effectively reduce fertility rates, improve child mortality outcomes, and increase contraceptive prevalence rates.
Moreover, the lessons learned from Bangladesh’s experience can be applied to other countries in Asia and Africa facing similar challenges. These countries should prioritize disaster risk reduction strategies, develop comprehensive disaster response frameworks, and involve local communities in the process. Additionally, family planning programs should be strengthened to provide accessible and quality reproductive health services to the population. By integrating disaster risk reduction and family planning efforts, these countries can effectively tackle regional disparities and enhance their resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.
