Analyzing Vulnerability to Flood Hazard of Urban People:Evidences from Dhaka Megacity, Bangladesh

Bangladesh experiences flood almost every year causing tremendous loss of property and life. Among other cities, Dhaka, the capital city and one of the most populated megacities of South Asia faces flood very often. This study aims to analyze the influence of socioeconomic, physical and demographic vulnerability to flood hazard of urban people (for both non-slum and slum). The structured questionnaire investigation, key informer interviews and empirical observation were administrated to collect required data from the eastern part of Dhaka megacity. The key findings of the study expose that the socioeconomic, physical and demographic factors have a considerable function to control people’s vulnerability to flood-induced hazards. The empirical data suggest that least education, insecure job and fragile housing condition make the slum people extreme vulnerable to flood. The slum people having vulnerable physical circumstance, nominal coping capacity and least education have fewer accesses to high paying and secure job, well-constructed housing and resilience to cope with potential flood hazards moreover this group of urban inhabitants are typically vulnerable to future calamities. Surprisingly their strong social network and neighborhood help them to rescue from crisis. In contrast, single-family composition and not to going shelter center make the non-slum people vulnerable. But, awareness and well preparation protect them from the natural disasters. The study finally concludes that the inherent susceptibility of households is responsible to increase the vulnerability of urban people to flood hazard.