On December 9, 2014 one of the worst environmental disasters in the history of Bangladesh occurred when approximately 350,000 liters of heavy fuel oil spilled out into the river and mangrove ecosystem of the Sundarbans.
Sundarbans, a UNESCO-protected world heritage site, drew attention of environmentalist from national and international after this man-made disaster.
Bangladesh has a strong disaster management system and good preparedness for natural hazards. However, environmental emergencies like oil spills and industrial accidents require a specific response and requires specialized knowledge.
In the future, Bangladesh’s disaster management experience can be used to strengthen the country’s preparedness for technological disasters. Training, equipment and experience will improve the response to environmental emergencies and minimize the impacts on local communities and ecosystems.
