The vast Barind region is facing increasingly unpredictable droughts due to inadequate and uneven rainfall, affecting the timing of monsoon onset and withdrawal, experts said.
Sharing his observations, Prof Niamul Bari of the Department of Civil Engineering at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) said the Barind region is among the worst drought-hit areas of the country, with the number of consecutive dry days and temperature steadily rising over the last three decades.
He said drought episodes have become more erratic due to climate change, a trend that is likely to intensify in the coming years, creating severe challenges for vulnerable communities.
During prolonged dry spells, most surface water sources dry up, leaving people without sufficient water for drinking, sanitation and agriculture, he added.
The human cost of drought includes increased disease incidence, particularly among children, malnutrition caused by crop failure, rising poverty and hindered socio-economic development, Prof Bari noted.
Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of the Department of Geology and Mining at Rajshahi University said the Barind region receives an average annual rainfall of about 1,400 millimeters, significantly lower than the national average of around 2,300 millimeters.
Under the initiative, more than 2.5 lakh marginalized families affected by climate change will gain access to water for drinking, farming and household use in the drought-prone Barind region.
