Flood Management Perspectives in Bangladesh An Assessment of Monsoon Flood in 2020

The recent flood in 2020, which began in late June, led to the inundation to vast areas of agricultural lands and homesteads, and caused partial or complete damage to public infrastructures. As a result, livelihoods were affected, and economic opportunities had to be forgone. The situation report prepared by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) reported that, as of 4 August 2020, about 54.5 lakhs people had been affected, which represents over 6 per cent of the population in the affected 33 districts. While the country was already feeling the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ­food added to the miseries of the vulnerable segment of population. This study has attempted to assess the impact of the monsoon ­flood in 2020 from various dimensions, including an assessment of the pre- and post-fl­ood management by the government, along with a set of policy recommendations to improve the government’s future ­flood management efforts and initiatives. Previously, CPD carried out assessment studies concerning ­floods in 2004, 2007 and 2017.