Md. Humayun Kabir

Urbanisation and environmental degradation in Dhaka Metropolitan Area of Bangladesh

Using available data on relevant issues and onsite field visits, this paper documented the environmental problems associated with the unprecedented urbanization in Dhaka Metropolitan Area of Bangladesh. Analyses revealed that a rapid spatial expansion of the city has been taking place alongside the remarkable rise in urban population, simultaneously putting immense pressure on natural resource-base. Substantial changes that were observed in land use and cover are believed to be a significant factor in elevating the risk of natural hazards, particularly flooding during monsoon. In addition, air, water, and noise quality, have all become acute, and are subsequently posing uncertain liabilities to the inhabitants’ health of the area. Rapid uncoordinated urbanisation gives rise to a spectacular growth of slums and squatters, making 3.4 million slum dwellers in 2006 from only 1.5 million in 1996. Achieving sustainable urban development in the DMA therefore, requires tackling the environmental problems in a rational manner.

Delineating flood risk areas in Greater Dhaka of Bangladesh using geoinformatics

This paper illustrates the development of flood hazard and risk maps in Greater Dhaka of Bangladesh using geoinformatics. Multi-temporal RADARSAT SAR and GIS data were employed to delineate flood hazard and risk areas for the 1998 historical flood. Flood-affected frequency and flood depth were estimated from multi-date SAR data and considered as hydrologic parameters for the evaluation of flood hazard. Using land-cover, gemorphic units and elevation data as thematic components, flood hazard maps were created by considering the interactive effect of flood frequency and flood water depth concurrently. Analysis revealed that a major portion of Greater Dhaka was exposed to high to very high hazard zones while a smaller portion (2.72%) was free from the potential flood hazard. Flood risk map according to administrative division showed that 75.35% of Greater Dhaka was within medium to very high risk areas of which 53.39% of areas are believed to be fully urbanized by the year 2010.

Supplementing Electrical Power Through Solar PV Systems

Dhaka megacity is home to more than 14 million inhabitants. However, the adequate supply of urban utilities, particularly electricity to city dwellers, has been a major challenge mainly due to high population pressure and increasing demand. An insufficient supply of electricity (1,000–1,200 MW) compared to its peak demand (around 2,000 MW) has had a severe negative impact on the city dwellers’ lifestyles. Given the shortfall of power supply in Dhaka, electricity generation through rooftop solar PV systems is widely discussed nowadays. Based on secondary data (sunshine duration, GHI values, etc.) and literature (identification of well-illuminated rooftops within the city and calculation of solar PV-based electricity generation potential by the authors), this chapter reveals that the driving forces (geophysical, economic and sociopolitical and environmental factors) are fully supportive of harnessing solar energy for electricity generation. The application of solar PV system on the city’s extensive well-illuminated rooftops (>10 km2) would be very effective and could possibly meet around half of the city’s power demand.

An old-age social security program for Bangladesh

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe a possible old-age social security program for Bangladesh, with financial projections through the year 2025. A major purpose for such a program would be its help in removing the large resistance to family planning. Actuarial projections for the cost of a national social security program are needed to justify the inauguration and maintenance of such a financial protection system. The paper relies on models to calculate reserve funds for a social insurance program developed by Cecil J. Nesbitt and others.

Energy Interdependency in South Asia

South Asian region comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives accommodates over 1.5 billion, which accounts for nearly one fourth of the total global population. There is a wide variation in the energy resources endowments among the South Asian countries in relation to hydropower, gas and coal resources and the region is also well endowed in other renewable energy sources such as (wind, solar, hydropower and biomass etc.) meeting a large portion of households’ energy demand across the region. The region faces challenges in efficiently meeting growing energy demand with increasing population pressure, can benefit from inter and intra-regional energy co-operation. This region provides a major opportunity for individual countries to address barriers to sustainable inclusive economic growth, especially in the energy sector as expanded energy co-operation can play an important role in long term economic development in this region. This paper based on the existing literature/documents from different sources including the authors’ contribution in this field, analyzes the existing state of energy status and energy interdependency within the South Asian countries and highlights opportunities, issues and challenges of cross border co-operation and trade.