Special Correspondent :
Experts have raised alarms that the Barind region of the country faces the imminent threat of becoming a desert by 2050 due to the adverse effects of climate change.
The water level in this area is dropping by an average of 2 to 3 feet annually. If this trend persists, the entire region could transform into a desert within the next 20 to 25 years.
To prevent this, it is crucial to ensure a steady flow of water, as the absence of adequate water could lead to increased river erosion and a consequent widening of riverbanks.
These concerns were highlighted during a discussion marking International Biodiversity Day, held in the city on Thursday.
Experts pointed out that India’s unilateral withdrawal of Padma River water during the dry season exacerbates the situation, severely impacting downstream areas like Bangladesh. This lack of equitable water sharing intensifies the water crisis in the region.
Furthermore, the unilateral water withdrawal in the upstream has placed the region’s navigation, irrigation systems, and biodiversity under severe threat.
Many rivers in the northern part of the country have turned into dry sand beds, leading to the near-death of approximately 140 rivers nationwide. Of these, about 13 rivers are on the verge of extinction.
If current trends continue, these rivers may disappear from the country’s map altogether, warned Abdus Sobhan, former Additional Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE).
“Biodiversity plays an essential role in our economic development and human well-being,” Sobhan noted. “It helps maintain breathable air, provides food, ensures water supply, and supports medicine, clothing, and shelter.”
“Biodiversity is an important driver of food security. Some 40 percent of the global economy and 80 percent of the needs of the poor come from biological resources.
The fate and well-being of humanity is strongly linked with biodiversity,” Sobhan stated.
He also emphasized that global food security for all animals is under threat and that conserving biodiversity is essential to ensure food security.