Bangladesh is widely recognized to be one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world (MoEF, 2009). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) predicts that Bangladesh will face higher monsoon rainfall resulting in higher levels of flow in the rivers and sea level rise which could increase coastal flooding and saline water intrusion into the aquifers and rivers. Most of Bangladesh lies in the delta of three of the largest rivers in the world. These rivers have a combined peak discharge in the flood season of 180,000 m3/sec (the second highest in the world, after the Amazon) and carry approximately two billion tons of sediment each year. Floodplains occupy 80% of Bangladesh making it susceptible to river and rain water flooding and, in lower-lying coastal areas, to tidal flooding during storms (MoEF, 2009).
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