Development of coastal areas rightfully deserves highest priority

The coastal regions of the country are home to a significant portion of the population, with nearly one-tenth residing in these areas. People in these regions are involved in diverse economic activities such as fishing, farming, shrimp farming, betel nut cultivation, boat building, and more. However, their lives are often precarious due to depressions in the Bay of Bengal, leading to tidal surges.

Over the years, a network of embankments has been constructed, both along the coastline and inland. Unfortunately, the construction and, more importantly, the year-round maintenance of these embankments are not carried out meticulously. Corruption and poor planning have plagued these efforts – thereby resulting in embankments failing to provide basic protection during tidal surges. They are either not initially strong enough or not repaired in a timely manner. The importance of proper embankment construction and thorough maintenance has been emphasised for a long time, yet there is a surprising lack of attention to these critical issues.

Media reports reveal that embankments damaged by the Aila storm from several years ago remain unrepaired in some places or have been shabbily fixed. This underscores the urgent need to prioritise the satisfactory construction and vigilant oversight of embankments. Although there is an increase in storm shelters in coastal areas, there is a clear need to significantly augment their number. This expansion is important for accommodating a larger number of coastal residents along with their essentials and assets during storms.

Policy planners must recognise the fact that investments in expanding safety structures along the coast will lead to long-term reductions in the need for expensive rebuilding efforts after each storm or tidal surge. This approach aligns with the objective of sustainably reducing poverty.

The persistent issues of river erosion and the resulting destitution of people pose significant challenges. Many persons arriving in Dhaka regularly are victims of such erosions. Comprehensive plans and their effective execution are necessary to control river erosions and implement resettlement programmes for those affected.

The protection of the country’s entire coastal area should be a top priority for policymakers. Strengthening protective infrastructures in coastal areas has the potential to substantially boost the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the short term. Given this potential, the development of coastal areas rightfully deserves the highest priority in our planning efforts.