There is no alternative to awareness in protecting people from lightning. The government is taking several steps, including planting palm trees and installing towers, but people must also be aware. To reduce lightning strikes, the government has undertaken to plant 10 lakh palm trees across the country.

Speakers made these points at a special webinar titled "Lightning and What to Do" organised by the Bangladesh Awami League's sub-committee on science and technology on Wednesday, 14 July.

The keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr Satya Prasad Majumder, vice-chancellor of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Sub-committee member Professor Dr A F M Ruhul Haque presided. Speakers included Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, science and technology secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur and forest and environment secretary Delwar Hossain. The event was moderated by sub-committee member Engineer Md Ronak Ahsan, assistant general secretary of the IEB.

Jahangir Kabir Nanak said lightning has become a great terror for the people of Bangladesh, and deaths from it have risen noticeably in recent years. Lightning, once confined to villages, haors and beels, is now being seen in urban areas too. The government has adopted a special plan to prevent lightning damage, but deaths have not stopped, and livestock and birds are dying as well as people. The government is therefore working extensively to prevent lightning deaths and, as part of disaster preparedness, has undertaken to plant 10 lakh palm trees.

Setting out several recommendations, he said Thailand had reduced deaths by planting palm trees and the Bangladesh government had taken advice from experts there. Vietnam had cut lightning deaths through the earthing systems of mobile phone towers. In Bangladesh there are plans to build towers as well as plant palm trees in haor areas. But what is needed most is public awareness, and people are being made aware through television, radio and newspapers. The government has also decided to buy advanced lightning arresters to protect lives.

Referring to the effects of climate change, he said there is a link between rising temperatures and more lightning. Indiscriminate felling of trees is already driving global warming. Trees protect us not only from lightning but from every kind of natural disaster, which is why the prime minister has placed the greatest emphasis on tree planting and afforestation. "I urge everyone: let us plant more trees, including some palm, betel nut or date palm trees, and avoid lightning damage."

In his welcome speech, Engineer Md Abdus Sabur said the government declared lightning a natural disaster in 2016. At the UN climate change conference, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the first to raise the global warming caused by climate change. Research has shown that if the earth's temperature rises by 1 degree, lightning strikes increase by 50 per cent. So there is no alternative to raising public awareness in tackling climate change.

Special guest Delwar Hossain said more trees must be planted to tackle climate change, and scientists, technologists and environmentalists must work together against lightning and climate change.

In his keynote paper, Professor Dr Satya Prasad Majumder said humanity is helpless before nature. In Bangladesh lightning is most frequent from May to July, and the country is one of the most lightning-prone areas in South Asia. By counting the gap between the flash and the sound, one can tell how far away lightning is striking and move to a safe place accordingly. Lightning strikes almost every district in Bangladesh to some extent, most of all Dhaka, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Sreemangal and Sylhet. Lightning arresters need to be installed in the areas that get the most lightning, but overall there is no alternative to public awareness in saving lives.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.