Chattogram's rapid development raises flood vulnerability, experts warn

Chattogram faces mounting flood risks as rapid urbanization and unplanned construction outpace climate adaptation measures, raising concerns among environmental experts and city planners. The port city's development trajectory has prioritized economic growth over environmental safeguards, with building projects expanding into vulnerable areas without adequate drainage systems or flood mitigation infrastructure.

The concentration of commercial and residential construction in low-lying zones and along waterways has reduced natural water absorption capacity and disrupted traditional drainage patterns. Wetlands and green spaces that historically provided natural buffers against flooding have been progressively eliminated to make way for development projects, leaving the city more exposed to extreme weather events.

Climate experts emphasize that Chattogram's vulnerability is compounded by its geographic position and seasonal monsoon patterns. As sea levels rise and weather patterns intensify due to global climate change, the city's growing population and expanding infrastructure face heightened exposure to flooding, water logging, and associated risks.

Urban planners and officials have called for comprehensive climate adaptation strategies, including improved drainage infrastructure, restoration of wetlands, and stricter building codes that account for flood risk. Experts stress that integrating climate resilience into future development plans is essential to protect the city's growing population and economic assets from increasingly severe weather threats.