Silent Effects of Climate Change in Bangladesh
- ADAB
- February 24, 2025
- 4:20 pm
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Bangladesh has long been battered by cyclones, droughts, tidal surges, and floods, with each disaster leaving a deep mark on people, livelihoods and landscapes.
A rapid rise in temperatures is a real threat to Bangladesh, home to more than 170 million people. Every year, the country makes headlines when deadly cyclones devastate coastal communities along the Bay of Bengal. Yet, beyond the immediate destruction, the long-term toll of these disasters on public health, economic survival, and community resilience remains largely overlooked.
A rapid rise in temperatures is a real threat to Bangladesh, home to more than 170 million people. Every year, the country makes headlines when deadly cyclones devastate coastal communities along the Bay of Bengal. Yet, beyond the immediate destruction, the long-term toll of these disasters on public health, economic survival, and community resilience remains largely overlooked.
Extreme Weather Fuels Health Crises
Cyclones have always occurred in Bangladesh, but their intensity and pattern have changed drastically. Studies suggest that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are unequivocally linked with climate change.
The coastal area near the Bay of Bengal is one of its weakest spots in Bangladesh, where cyclone activity becomes more intense and frequent. Tropical storms can be just as devastating, while tidal surges can reach up to nine meters high. For local communities, survival comes at a heavy cost, as they live under constant threat, risking their health every day.
Moon Khaleda Hossain, Action Against Hunger expert based in the coastal area of Satkhira, works tirelessly to raise awareness about the health risks from the effects of climate change as part of the CARE project¹. “In Satkhira, summer temperatures are much higher than in other areas, leading to frequent cases of heat stroke and dehydration. Because of the bad air quality, people suffer from breathing or lung-related diseases such as pneumonia and asthma”. The coastal areas of Satkhira were once thriving with rice fields, but repeated cyclones and storms have mixed saltwater with freshwater, making rice farming impossible. With no other choice, farmers have abandoned rice cultivation and turned to fish farming to survive: “Due to the high salinity of the soil, crop production is very low, and people with low income cannot afford to buy food. Thus, many suffer from malnutrition, especially small children.”, explains Moon.
Cyclones have always occurred in Bangladesh, but their intensity and pattern have changed drastically. Studies suggest that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are unequivocally linked with climate change.
The coastal area near the Bay of Bengal is one of its weakest spots in Bangladesh, where cyclone activity becomes more intense and frequent. Tropical storms can be just as devastating, while tidal surges can reach up to nine meters high. For local communities, survival comes at a heavy cost, as they live under constant threat, risking their health every day.
Moon Khaleda Hossain, Action Against Hunger expert based in the coastal area of Satkhira, works tirelessly to raise awareness about the health risks from the effects of climate change as part of the CARE project¹. “In Satkhira, summer temperatures are much higher than in other areas, leading to frequent cases of heat stroke and dehydration. Because of the bad air quality, people suffer from breathing or lung-related diseases such as pneumonia and asthma”. The coastal areas of Satkhira were once thriving with rice fields, but repeated cyclones and storms have mixed saltwater with freshwater, making rice farming impossible. With no other choice, farmers have abandoned rice cultivation and turned to fish farming to survive: “Due to the high salinity of the soil, crop production is very low, and people with low income cannot afford to buy food. Thus, many suffer from malnutrition, especially small children.”, explains Moon.
Today, fish farming is mostly managed by women, as men work as day labourers and are often away for months at a time. Anima is no exception — she spends four to five hours a day in the salty water tending to the fish: “I spend most of my time in the salty water, taking care of the fish pond. Once, my sores and itching got much worse because of the salt. Then I caught dysentery, and it wouldn’t go away — I kept getting sick over and over again. The itching became so bad, and I couldn’t tell anyone. So, I walked to the clinic by myself.” Luckily, Anima received the necessary treatment in the clinic on time and healed quickly. Yet, in these areas, women often suffer from skin diseases and gynecological problems due to prolonged exposure to highly salty water.
The community clinic is run by Bangladesh Government where consultations and medicines are free of charge. “On a larger scale, we aim at enhancing health monitoring in local communities and ensuring better access to health services, especially for remote areas,”explains Moon as she sees firsthand how natural disasters exacerbate health problems.
The community clinic is run by Bangladesh Government where consultations and medicines are free of charge. “On a larger scale, we aim at enhancing health monitoring in local communities and ensuring better access to health services, especially for remote areas,”explains Moon as she sees firsthand how natural disasters exacerbate health problems.
Lack of clean drinking water and poor access to medical care make the situation very challenging for local communities. Moon points out that “Satkhira faces a high salinity level in the water and groundwater, which causes a shortage of drinking water.” As a result, some people have to travel two to three kilometers to fetch water from a freshwater pond or tubewell, while others depend on the rainwater they collect during the rainy season. The collected water usually lasts for two or three months at the highest. After that, families become dependent on pond water only. “The problem with pond water is that even after purifying it overnight with alum, it’s not completely clean so people get sick with diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.”, insists Moon.
Living in a disaster-prone zone also takes a toll on mental health. Survivors can develop multiple psychosocial disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety. “Cyclone Amphan brought a lot of suffering to our family. Our grandfather was worried about the house and went back to check on it. He died after being swept away by a high tide”, recalls Tanzila, who survived the disastrous cyclone in 2020. Mental health needs are largely underestimated in the context of climate hazards, yet traumatic events experienced by many families are deeply rooted in their memories.
Living in a disaster-prone zone also takes a toll on mental health. Survivors can develop multiple psychosocial disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety. “Cyclone Amphan brought a lot of suffering to our family. Our grandfather was worried about the house and went back to check on it. He died after being swept away by a high tide”, recalls Tanzila, who survived the disastrous cyclone in 2020. Mental health needs are largely underestimated in the context of climate hazards, yet traumatic events experienced by many families are deeply rooted in their memories.
Rethinking Food Security with Smart Solutions
Losing homes, livelihoods, and cultivable land to floods or climate disasters is a deeply traumatic experience. Many are left with no choice but to abandon everything and relocate. Recent data reveals that in 2022 alone, over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced due to climate change. And those who stay have to struggle with raising debts, given the scarcity of economic activities and generalized poverty.
“The food security program² that we launched in Satkhira tends to create an alternative solution for those communities who remain in these disaster-prone areas,” explains Sumon Homaun Kabir, Action Against Hunger Program manager who supervises food security and livelihoods projects. “It is very difficult to produce any vegetables because of the water and soil salinity. We provide technical knowledge to reduce soil salinity and improve soil fertility through agro-ecological practices such as using organic fertilizer, mulching and crop rotation for individual kitchen gardening”. All households of the Simul Baria village are part of this project, and the results are already visible. They use many techniques, such as bottles for water retention, vertical elevated structures to save seeds from salinity, and mulching to preserve soil from water evaporation. “We don’t use chemicals. Instead, we rely on organic fertilizers to preserve soil quality and boost production.”, insists Sumon, who believes that the best results come when traditional practices blend with a scientific approach.
For Rekha, who joined the training in May last year, the results were unexpected. One may find a wide variety of vegetables around her house, where each square meter is used for cultivation. “I want to grow more vegetables to increase my income. In this space, I already planted seedlings of chilli peppers, brinjal, tomato, and spinach seeds. I am not leaving any space empty!” smiles Rekha, who has ambitious plans and now trains other women from the village.
Losing homes, livelihoods, and cultivable land to floods or climate disasters is a deeply traumatic experience. Many are left with no choice but to abandon everything and relocate. Recent data reveals that in 2022 alone, over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced due to climate change. And those who stay have to struggle with raising debts, given the scarcity of economic activities and generalized poverty.
“The food security program² that we launched in Satkhira tends to create an alternative solution for those communities who remain in these disaster-prone areas,” explains Sumon Homaun Kabir, Action Against Hunger Program manager who supervises food security and livelihoods projects. “It is very difficult to produce any vegetables because of the water and soil salinity. We provide technical knowledge to reduce soil salinity and improve soil fertility through agro-ecological practices such as using organic fertilizer, mulching and crop rotation for individual kitchen gardening”. All households of the Simul Baria village are part of this project, and the results are already visible. They use many techniques, such as bottles for water retention, vertical elevated structures to save seeds from salinity, and mulching to preserve soil from water evaporation. “We don’t use chemicals. Instead, we rely on organic fertilizers to preserve soil quality and boost production.”, insists Sumon, who believes that the best results come when traditional practices blend with a scientific approach.
For Rekha, who joined the training in May last year, the results were unexpected. One may find a wide variety of vegetables around her house, where each square meter is used for cultivation. “I want to grow more vegetables to increase my income. In this space, I already planted seedlings of chilli peppers, brinjal, tomato, and spinach seeds. I am not leaving any space empty!” smiles Rekha, who has ambitious plans and now trains other women from the village.
Taking Early Actions in Disaster-Prone Areas
A few kilometers away, women gather for a group session in the village of Hazrakali. This community is often hit by cyclones and hosts displaced inhabitants of the neighboring Mariali village, which was completely washed away in 2020. “After Cyclone Amphan hit, we were all scattered after the embankment broke and water came in,” recalls Tanzila, a member of the committee. “We were deprived of food, medicine, and shelter, with no income to support us — and every bit of money we had was to pay our debts.”
As part of the Strengthening Forecast-based Early Actions in Cyclone Prone Coastal Region of Bangladesh (STEP)³ program, women discuss a concrete set of actions to adopt in case of climatic disasters. The concept is simple: the sooner early actions are taken, the more loss and damage can be prevented. “Today, we know how to reinforce the roof, protect the house, and when to go to the shelter. Money, mobile phones, and essential documents are kept in safe places,” explains Tanzila, who witnessed many disastrous cyclones over the last 20 years.
Saving people’s lives is of utmost importance. Action Against Hunger teams work with communities to raise awareness about the need to reach shelters during major disasters. On the other hand, the project proposes important steps to preserve all material assets, such as houses, kitchen gardens, fish farms, and livestock. To minimize losses, two locally made freezers with a 500 kg capacity to preserve early-harvested fish are accessible within the community. Also, the locally called “hapa” structures made of bamboo and fish nets are deployed to preserve fish, where they stay secure and alive. Communities are encouraged to store hygiene kits, dry food and essential medicines. These items are carried to the cyclone shelters during evacuations.
A few kilometers away, women gather for a group session in the village of Hazrakali. This community is often hit by cyclones and hosts displaced inhabitants of the neighboring Mariali village, which was completely washed away in 2020. “After Cyclone Amphan hit, we were all scattered after the embankment broke and water came in,” recalls Tanzila, a member of the committee. “We were deprived of food, medicine, and shelter, with no income to support us — and every bit of money we had was to pay our debts.”
As part of the Strengthening Forecast-based Early Actions in Cyclone Prone Coastal Region of Bangladesh (STEP)³ program, women discuss a concrete set of actions to adopt in case of climatic disasters. The concept is simple: the sooner early actions are taken, the more loss and damage can be prevented. “Today, we know how to reinforce the roof, protect the house, and when to go to the shelter. Money, mobile phones, and essential documents are kept in safe places,” explains Tanzila, who witnessed many disastrous cyclones over the last 20 years.
Saving people’s lives is of utmost importance. Action Against Hunger teams work with communities to raise awareness about the need to reach shelters during major disasters. On the other hand, the project proposes important steps to preserve all material assets, such as houses, kitchen gardens, fish farms, and livestock. To minimize losses, two locally made freezers with a 500 kg capacity to preserve early-harvested fish are accessible within the community. Also, the locally called “hapa” structures made of bamboo and fish nets are deployed to preserve fish, where they stay secure and alive. Communities are encouraged to store hygiene kits, dry food and essential medicines. These items are carried to the cyclone shelters during evacuations.
“For example, they can sell fish that can be sold and stored in a safe area if a tidal surge is expected. They can also evacuate their cattle safely and provide them with fodder so they can survive during the emergency,” explains Sumon Homaun Kabir, who observes the program’s real impact on people’s awareness and readiness during disasters.
Since May 2024, Bangladesh has been severely impacted by four devastating climate-related disasters, including Cyclone Remal, flash floods in the Haor Region, riverine floods in the Jamuna Basin, and unprecedented floods in the eastern regions. These events have had a catastrophic impact, affected 18.4 million people and caused significant damage to livelihoods and infrastructure.
Since May 2024, Bangladesh has been severely impacted by four devastating climate-related disasters, including Cyclone Remal, flash floods in the Haor Region, riverine floods in the Jamuna Basin, and unprecedented floods in the eastern regions. These events have had a catastrophic impact, affected 18.4 million people and caused significant damage to livelihoods and infrastructure.
