| NEWS
| SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
In it Together
Students discuss flooding in Louisiana
and Bangladesh
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| Special to The Shorthorn: Rajib
Mahboob |
| Rajib Mahboob, electrical engineering
and photography junior from Bangladesh (pictured above
and below), says he can relate to hurricane victims
since the summer monsoons flood his country every year. |
|
By Elyse
Malanowski
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Louisiana and Bangladesh are on opposite sides of the world, but
Rajib Mahboob can relate to the hurricane victims of New Orleans.
The electrical engineering and photography junior came to the U.S.
from Dhaka in 2003 and recalls his experiences growing up.
“In 1987 or 1988, the whole city flooded, and we were in a
boat in front of our house,” he said.
He said that during the summer, Bangladesh is inundated due to the
constant rain caused by the monsoon season. He said that being stranded
on boats with inches of water in their homes happens at least once
a year.
Because Mahboob and his family lived in the capital, he said people
living in the city are better off than the poorer population that
has to wait to get help from the government.
“The water stayed for almost two weeks, and there was no fresh
water supply,” he said.
Nursing sophomore Shelia Williams arrived Wednesday from a community
college in New Orleans. She said her family was staying in Northern
Mississippi “trying to get the ball rolling.”
Williams’ two-story apartment was not directly affected by
water, but wind damage broke windows and knocked down power lines.
Williams’ extended family lived in Eastern New Orleans and
lost their homes and property from the flooding.
“My family’s houses are under water. All you could see
is what you see on TV: the rooftops,” she said.
As time goes on, experts predict there will be more occasions such
as those in Louisiana and Bangladesh.
Torbjorn Tornquist, earth and environmental sciences associate professor
from Tulane University, researches the Mississippi delta. He left
Louisiana the same day he moved there because of the hurricane.
“Every model predicts that sea levels will rise about 40 centimeters
in the next century,” he said.
Because the highest point in Bangladesh is 1,230 meters above sea
level, Tornquist said the country is constantly at risk to either
the overflow of rivers or a coastal storm.
“For a lot of coastal areas a few decimeters makes a lot of
difference,” he said.
Although both countries have experienced great losses, Tornquist
said it serves as a tool to prevent the loss of property and loved
ones in the future.
“There is a lot to be learned from what happened in Louisiana
for many other places in the world,” he said.
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