M. Nazrul Islam

Community-based disaster risk and vulnerability models of a coastal municipality in Bangladesh

AbstractBangladesh is one of the most natural hazard-prone countries in the world with the greatest negative consequences being associated with cyclones, devastating floods, riverbank erosion, drought, earthquake, and arsenic contamination, etc. One way or other, these natural hazards engulfed every corner of Bangladesh. The main aim of this research paper is to carry out a multi-hazards risk and vulnerability assessment for the coastal Matlab municipality in Bangladesh and to recommend possible mitigation measures. To this aim, hazards are prioritized by integrating SMUG and FEMA models, and a participation process is implemented so as to involve community both in the risk assessment and in the identification of adaptation strategies. The Matlab municipality is highly vulnerable to several natural hazards such as cyclones, floods, and riverbank erosion. The SMUG is a qualitative assessment, while FEMA is a quantitative assessment of hazards. The FEMA model suggests a threshold of highest 100 points. All hazards that total more than 100 points may receive higher priority in emergency preparedness and mitigation measures. The FEMA model, because it judges each hazard individually in a numerical manner, may provide more satisfying results than the SMUG system. The spatial distributions of hazard, risk, social institutions, land use, and other resources indicate that the flood disaster is the top environmental problem of Matlab municipality. Hazard-specific probable mitigation measures are recommended with the discussion of local community. Finally, this study tries to provide insights into the way field research combining scientific assessments tools such as SMUG and FEMA could feed evidence-based decision-making processes for mitigation in vulnerable communities.

Modeling alternative mitigation strategies of salinity intrusion on food production by integrating SWOT and TEAM decision models

AbstractSalinity intrusion is one of the major concerns for the coastal people of Bangladesh. The impacts of salinity intrusion on food production of coastal districts are likely to severe. Since the extensive shrimp farming cultivation started in the 1970s, it has spread throughout the coastal region, increasing soil and water salinity levels. A mixed-method approach was employed by coupling with SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities and threats) models for identifying alternative mitigation strategies of salinity intrusion on food production at coastal districts in Bangladesh. A variety of stakeholders and policymakers were first interviewed, being asked to participate in an exercise identifying their perceptions of the greatest challenges facing coastal districts people due to salinity intrusion on food production. The study results reveal that large part of the land of coastal districts intrude with high salinity and a little part is under moderate and low salinity. Therefore, the agricultural land is decreasing and shifting into shrimp farming and settlements. The salinity intrusion affects the soil surface is to decrease food crop production of the study areas about approximately 0.45 metric tons every year. The integrating SWOT and TEAM models analysis were shown that the indigenous agricultural systems, NGOs activities and community people adaptive potency were the strength whereas sensitive environment and absence of strict law of environmental management and implication gap of policy options were found to be the weaknesses. Foreign aid and research results and shrimp export facilities were found to be the main opportunities. Land scarcity, food security issues and political interventions were found to be the main threats. The SWOT model identified several alternatives mitigation strategies for salinity intrusion in coastal districts context have been identified which are funding opportunities, alternative income generation, sustainable shrimp aquaculture, salinity tolerant crop varieties, climate smart agriculture and environmental education and research etc. In the end, it is a case study that might shed some useful schemes combining scientific assessment models such as SWOT and TEAM, which could feed evidence-based decision-making processes for generating alternatives mitigation strategies of environmental threats.

Management of Sustainable, Credible and Integrated Electronic Voting (E-Voting) System For Bangladesh

Abstract In this modern age countries worldwide evince a growing interest in electronic voting (e-Voting), which brings the idea of modernizing elections through electronic systems and provides many advantages such as efficiency, disseminating results more quickly, and in a cost-effective way. The paper gives a brief overview on recent developments of electronic voting systems in Bangladesh by using electronic voting machine (EVM) and addresses some strategies and principles in order to improve accessibility, easiness, accuracy, and security of election for better democratic process.

Modeling on management strategies for spatial assessment of earthquake disaster vulnerability in Bangladesh

This paper explores sustainable management strategies for mitigation destructive geological disaster earthquake spatial susceptibility in Bangladesh, is located south piedmont plain of Himalaya mountain ranges in South Asia. During the contemporary time, earthquake is regarded as most destructive geological disaster due to its devastating impact on physical environment, socio-economic infrastructure, people’s lives, livelihood and biodiversity of the world. In Bangladesh, earthquake destruction vulnerability is the results of two major factors natural (geological formation, plate tectonic framework, plate margin, geographical location, location of fault and fold) and human intervention (tremendous increase of population, construction of multi-storied concrete building in urban environment, rapid growth of urbanization and industrialization). Both physical and manmade factors accelerated extreme earthquake disaster which impacts on sustainable life style and livelihood patterns of poor peoples as a developing nation Bangladesh of the world. To ensure sustainable management strategies of earthquake spatial susceptibility, the aim of this paper is selected to access earthquakes susceptibility using geostatistical modeling for producing detailed risk to support mitigation approach of earthquakes in present and future in Bangladesh. For this study, almost 94 earthquakes samples are collected from Google Earth during the time period (1961–2018) in inland Bangladesh. In this study, spatial susceptibility map developed by applying geostatistical models with GIS approach which based on earthquakes magnitude (Richter scale) and focus depth (km). Predictive spatial earthquake susceptibility map and risk estimation process will help geologist, geomorphologist, environmental engineers, urban planner, government and non-government organizations for vulnerability assessment including structural (settlement planning, building materials and building code development) and nonstructural mitigation (disaster preparedness approach: pre-disaster, during disaster and post-disaster), spatial risk estimation, disaster crisis and conflict mitigation, relief distribution at national and global level.