Should Bangladesh proceed with plans to control its annual river flooding? Why?

Should Bangladesh proceed with plans to control its annual river flooding? The floods in Bangladesh cause huge amounts of damage and large numbers of people are killed every year. It is therefore likely that development of Bangladesh is retarded producing one of the poorest countries in the world. Controlling the flooding would ensure development, and life could continue without the threat of flooding, but would it ensure future protection from catastrophic flooding? There are presently …

…silting. The reduction in deforestation would stop river channels from raising their levels. Reforestation would make a huge reduction in erosion but presently the co-operation of this scale is unlikely. The price of the defences is also a hot issue but put in context with the anount of damage caused - 3 billion in the flood of 1976, the defences would be well worth it and the price of which would be recovered in a few floods.