Risk Assessment Strategies in Haor Region of Bangladesh

Over the centuries the haor areas of Sylhet region in Bangladesh are highly vulnerable to environmental hazards such as flash flood, early flood, cyclone, water logging, sand carpeting, high degree of soil erosion etc. The researcher selects Bhatgaon union of Chhatak upazila under Sunamganj district, which not only vulnerable to environmental hazard but also the social development of the union is also very vulnerable. This research work reveals that the study area is highly subjected to environmental vulnerability. People of the Bhatgaon union have been suffering much all year round from these hazards for a long time. Their local coping strategies aren t sufficient to reduce the damage of the hazards. The research work also reveals that community level risk assessment and priority based coping strategy is the best possible method to cope with the disasters. For this purpose, the researcher had gone through a detailed investigation to point out the major environmental hazards and its spatial distribution with associated causes of the hazards. After identification of hazards the researcher assess risk to each of the hazard and recommends possible coping strategy for those hazards.