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The sudden ice collapse and devastating flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border have raised fresh concerns for Bangladesh and seven other countries that depend directly or indirectly on the Himalayan mountain range.
Scientists have warned that the rapid melting of Himalayan ice due to global warming could make such disasters increasingly complex and frequent.
When ice collapses or flash floods occur in the mountains, huge volumes of water can quickly flow downstream.
As Bangladesh lies at the downstream end of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river basins, the country remains particularly vulnerable to the effects of upstream flooding.
The changing climate could increase the risks of flash floods, river erosion and unseasonal floods in the coming days, experts have warned.
They stressed the need for regional cooperation rather than relying solely on individual countries to manage such disasters.
Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Pakistan and other countries in the region need stronger systems for sharing early weather warnings and monitoring river flows, they said.
Timely dissemination of disaster warnings could help save thousands of lives and protect property, according to the report.
Source: The New York Times