Photo: Collected
Since its designation as a district in 1984, Gaibandha has grappled with the absence of a local meteorological office, leaving millions at the mercy of severe winters, droughts, and floods. The deficiency in timely forecasts has heightened risks for the community, compelling journalists and residents to seek weather updates from distant sources.
Reports reveal that Gaibandha, with its population in the lakhs, suffers from annual natural calamities. The absence of a regional meteorological office deprives locals of crucial disaster information, exacerbating the magnitude of damages incurred.
In the absence of a local weather authority, journalists in Gaibandha contend with an information vacuum during natural disasters. Amidst harsh winters and parched spells, they resort to online searches for crucial updates. When online sources fail, they are compelled to reach out to the Rangpur Meteorological Office, a time-consuming process that hampers timely reporting.
Momenur Rashid Sagar, representing Gaibandha district for the online news portal Bangla News 24.com, lamented the inconvenience of repeatedly contacting the Rangpur Meteorological Office to ascertain basic weather data, stressing the urgency of establishing a meteorological office in Gaibandha given its susceptibility to disasters.
Moreover, the lack of rainfall data in this flood-prone region leads to extensive inundation of lowland crops during monsoons, perpetuating agricultural losses.
Residents of flood-affected areas in Phulchari Upazila bemoan the absence of a weather office, which delays flood warnings, resulting in severe annual damages. Timely predictions, they argue, could mitigate the flood's severity to some extent.
Maruf Hasan, Chief Coordinator of Youth Net Gaibandha District Branch, underscores the agricultural sector's vulnerability to weather fluctuations. With Gaibandha devoid of a meteorological office, farmers resort to guesswork, leaving them unprepared for adverse weather conditions, disrupting crop yields and inflicting financial losses.
Mostafizar Rahman, a scientific officer at the Rangpur Meteorological Office, acknowledges the predicament, citing the absence of meteorological offices in six northern districts, including Gaibandha. Despite repeated pleas to the authorities, the lack of a timely response exacerbates the region's vulnerability to natural disasters.
Rahman underscores the potential benefits of establishing a comprehensive meteorological office in Gaibandha, emphasizing its role in reducing lightning-related fatalities, providing advance warnings for earthquakes and major floods, and safeguarding farmers from crop damage through early rainfall predictions.
Establishing a meteorological office in Gaibandha is not merely a matter of convenience but a crucial investment in the region's resilience against climate-induced adversities. With Gaibandha's heavy reliance on agriculture, accurate weather forecasts are imperative for informed decision-making among farmers, ensuring sustainable crop management practices and mitigating economic losses.
Furthermore, a local meteorological office would empower communities with timely disaster preparedness measures, including evacuation plans and resource allocation, fostering a proactive approach to risk management.
Beyond agricultural sustainability, the establishment of a meteorological office holds promise for enhancing public safety. By issuing timely warnings and advisories, such an office can significantly reduce the loss of life and property caused by natural disasters like floods, cyclones, and landslides.
In light of these pressing needs, policymakers must prioritize the establishment of a meteorological office in Gaibandha, recognizing its pivotal role in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and the overall well-being of the community.
Messenger/Fameema
