Spatiotemporal evaluation of drought trend during 1979–2019 in seven climatic zones of Bangladesh

Evaluation of drought is essential and useful to eradicate climate change impact. Therefore, this study aims to explore the spatiotemporal drought intensity trend in seven climatic zones of Bangladesh during 1979–2019. Mann-Kendall trend test and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) are employed to identify drought trend and status, whereas spatial visualization is checked through Inverse Distance Weighting Interpolation. The study's findings emphasize the decreasing rate of SPEI in all climatic zones except the south-eastern zone, which is > 0.0065, >0.007, >0.0128, and >-0.0001 for SPEI 09 12, 24, and 06, respectively. Furthermore, the northern region has the highest value in SPEI in some periods with the highest decrease rate in SPEI 06, SPEI 09, SPEI 12 demonstrates greater drought responsibilities. The Barisal (.>-3.75), Rangpur (>-3.65), Dinajpur ((>-3.00), Rajshahi (>-4.35), Bogra (>-4.50), Ishurdi (>-3.45), Faridpur (>-4.30) and Madaripur (>-2.10) found under extreme drought-prone climatic zone. Thus, the study recommends taking initiatives and management for water resources to adopt mitigation planning for drought-prone climatic zones.