In a renewed policy, Japan’s official agency JICA will look more into disaster management and climate change threatening permanent inundation of a huge area along the coast, reports agnency.

“Only a meter of sea level rise might devour 15 to 17 percent of Bangladesh’s total land. So, we are putting more emphasis on climate change and mitigation of its adverse impacts,” Resident Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ms Nobuko Suzuki Kayashima told this correspondent on Sunday.

Deputy Resident Representative Takayuki Sugawara was also present. Ms Kayashima said, the government of Japan has already taken steps to develop the meteorological department through five new radar stations and a state of the art data system for accurate weather forecasting in Bangladesh, battered by frequent floods, cyclones and occasional droughts.

She said, JICA works in Bangladesh for long in three areas- economic development, social empowerment and good governance—- encompassing almost all fields to help the country attain quick development.

The merger of JICA and Japan Bank for International Development (JBIC) in October would further enhance the endeavor, she hoped adding, the merger would make JICA single largest bilateral agency after World Bank in the world. Deputy Resident Representative Suzuki Mitsuaki said, the five radar stations would cover entire territory of Bangladesh and beyond, empowering the met office to observe huge rains and depression over the Bay of Bengal.

The stations based at Khepupara, Cox’s Bazar, Rangpur, Moulvibazar and Dhaka will improve the accuracy to give early prediction and precaution to reduce vulnerability from natural calamities in the country. Suzuki, a civil engineer by trade, said Japan has been conducting a study to construct a number of school-cum-cyclone shelters in Sidr-affected four districts of Patuakahli, Pirojpur, Bagerhat and Barguna.

These shelters would be similar to 81 structures Japan had built in coastal areas after 1991 cyclone to help protect people from disasters, he said adding two of Japanese volunteers would be dispatched soon to make people aware about quick response to disasters and emerging threats from climate change.

He also suggested that Bangladesh should construct embankments along coastal areas as a solution, but these infrastructures would not only involve high cost but also destroy bio-diversity and fish resources.

According to statistics, Japan provides US $ 440 million to Bangladesh as technical assistance, grant and soft loans. JICA spends US$ 20 million for providing technical assistance that include capacity building and human resource development.