Abstract
The inhabitants of the active floodplain of Bangladesh’s main rivers receive little government support to help them cope with floods and have developed their own strategies. Major flood projection works are not possible in these areas where floods and erosion annually affect many vulnerable people. Surveys of the impact of severe floods found that total losses and the dislocation to their lives is substantial. These loss data were used to assess the financial viability of small scale floodproofing measures, such as house raising and flood shelters, which are the preferences of these people. Such measures give better rates of return than embankment projects in mainland areas, provided that the location is not affected by erosion for four to eight years. A combination of resources, technical assistance and local hazard assessment is needed, and a government commitment to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of the active floodplains.