External Relations of National

Meteorological and Hydrological Services in

Bangladesh

Jashim Uddin Ahmed

Deputy Secretary
Ministry of Defence
Govt. of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Workshop of Advisers on External Relations and Field Study for RA-II/V)

Korea: 28 April – 03 May 2008
 Introduction

Bangladesh is a Southeast Asian country of area about

1,48,875 sq. Km. extending from 200 45' to 260 40'N
and from 880 05' to 920 40'E on the global map. Most
part of this country is a plain low land, with the hills in
the south-eastern, and north-eastern parts.
The vast Bay of Bengal lies to the south and great
Himallayas in the north of the country.
It is a land of rivers consisting of 230 of which 57 rivers
originate from outside. The major rivers are the
Meghna, the Padma and the Brahmaputra
Bangladesh is under RA-II
National Meteorological Service:
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) is
an operational scientific Department under the
Ministry of Defence, Government of Bangladesh.

National Hydrological Service:

Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) is
under Bangladesh Water Development Board
(BWDB), Ministry of Water Resources,
Government of Bangladesh.
There is a close cooperation between the
Meteorological and the Hydrological services.
 The Service Objectives of BMD
 To observe different meteorological parameters both
for surface and upper air all over Bangladesh round the
clock.
 To prepare and analyze all weather charts and to
make interpretation on the basis of analyses.
 To provide weather forecasts for public, farmers,
mariners and aviators on routine basis and also to
issue warnings for severe weather phenomena such as
tropical cyclones, tornadoes, nor’westers, heavy
rainfall, etc.
 To maintain surveillance of weather radars for
probing impending tropical cyclones, nor’westers and
tornadoes.
 To exchange meteorological data, forecasts and
warnings to meet national and international
requirements.
 The Service Objectives of BMD
To receive round the clock satellite imageries for timely
use in operational meteorology.
To extract, maintain quality control, process, archive
and publish climatic data for use of various interested
agencies at home and abroad.
To provide meteorological data, radar echoes and
Satellite imageries and weather forecast for flood
forecasting and warning centre.
To monitor micro seismic events and earth quake
round the clock.
To conduct special studies required for the policy
makers and for the development of Hydro-meteorology
and Meteorological sciences in the region
 The Service Objectives of FFWC
• FFWC gets meteorological and hydrological data from
BMD through Computer Network and Global
Telecommunication System (GTS) Link.
• It maintains over 80 rain gauges apart from 35 BMD rain
gauges.
• It receives satellite imageries from BMD and SPARRSO,
Radar Imageries from BMD.
• It runs MIKE-II + GIS Model to produce 72 hours flood
forecast during monsoon.
• It makes Flood Bulletins and disseminates to concerned
GO, NGO and Mass-media.
• Flash Flood forecasting is still a challenge. Asian Disaster
Preparedness Centre (ADPC), Bangkok is trying to help in
this regard.
 External Relations/Cooperation
• Both BMD and FFWC are in close touch with different
International Organizations.
• BMD gets Grant Aid from Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) for establishing and
upgrading Radar and Satellite (MTSAT) Systems.
• China Meteorological Administration (CMA) provided
PCVSAT and MICAPS to BMD for acquiring and
analyzing GTS data and NWP products.
• BMD Personnel are getting different trainings from Korea
Meteorological Administration (KMA) under the auspices
of KOICA.
• FFWC received flood forecasting model (MIKE-II) and
training from Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI).
 External Relations/Cooperation
• Earlier Climate Forecast Application in Bangladesh
(CFAB), now Climate Forecast Application Network
(CFAN) of Gaorgia Institute of Technology (GATECH) is
trying to help FFWC by providing water discharge
forecast.
• WMO being the apex body of Meteorology and
Hydrology is helping BMD and FFWC in various sectors.
• Recently WMO upgraded the GTS Link of BMD from 2.4
kbps to 64 kbps.
• BMD is receiving Tsunami Information/Bulletins from
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) and Japan
Meteorological Agency (JMA)
• BMD and FFWC/BWDB are maintaining good relations
among the Regional NMHSs under the umbrella of
South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation
(SAARC).
 Conclusion
• Bangladesh is a disaster prone country.
• Its economy is very often shattered by
natural disasters.
• There are resource and research
constraints in BMD and FFWC being in
the LDC.
• Both the Organizations are striving hard to
go ahead with the National and
International Cooperation.