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The Impact of Climate Change in the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh Affected by Cyclone Bulbul

M.A. Haque
Assistant Professor
Department of Environment Science, The University of Comilla (UNIC), Uttara, Dhak

M.A. Alam
Senior Scientific Officer
BJR, Dhaka

S.M. Moniruzzaman
Principal Scientific Officer
BJRI, Dhaka

M. M. Hoque
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The University of Comilla (UNIC), Uttara, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bangladesh is considered one of the country’s most at risk to the effects of climate change and its coastal area is most vulnerable. This study tries to explore the experiences of cyclone bulbul affected people living in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. This study was conducted in the cyclone Bulbul affected Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira District. Primary data collection was done using Focus Group Discussion and then a thematic analysis approach was used for analysis. Five core themes emerged from the analysis and they are, firstly, demographic, socio-economic and livelihood of the respondent; secondly, perceptions and information about climate change and salinity; thirdly, salinity and water supply; fourthly, impact of salinity on living beings with special reference to human beings; and finally the adaptation in facing salinity intrusion (in soil and water resources) caused by climate change. Findings show that the impact of climate change has serious consequences on the livelihood patterns of the affected population and on their overall health status. As a result, a number of health’s related diseases have been identified in the research area due to salinity such as diarrhea, dysentery, high blood pressure, gastric, skin problems etc. It also impacts to agricultural crops, fisheries and biodiversity. The study focuses to identify the overall impacts of those sectors. The possible measures area selection of salt-tolerant crops, rain water harvesting, regular support from NGOs as well as government to maintain Pond Sand Filter (PSF), construction of Bank Sand Filter ( BSF), provide Reverse Osmosis ( RO) plants, exploring suitable layers for tube-wells.

Keywords: Climate change; Impact; Coastal areas; Bangladesh; Cyclone Bulbul.

Location: Satkhira district, the southern part of Bangladesh

Start Date: 15-11-2019

End Date: 10-12-2019

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Climate change, Impact, Cyclone

Objectives:

Considering the present situation of Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira District the main objectives were: a) to know the impacts of salinity intrusion on drinking water and crop production in the study area; b) to find out the impacts of salinity intrusion on fisheries and biodiversity.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in the Satkhira district is located in southern part of Bangladesh. The district is surrounded by a complex river network consisting of Kobadak, Sonai, Kholpatua, Morischap, Raimangal, Hariabhanga, Ichamati, Betrabati and Kalindi-Jamuna. The area of Satkhira district is 3,858.33 sq km with a population of over 2 million. Annual average temperature varies from a maximum of 31.6°C to a minimum of 21.4°C and annual rainfall is 1,742 mm. Average literacy rate is 30.35 percent (male 39.7 percent and female 21 percent). The main occupations are agriculture, fishing, pisciculture, agricultural laborer, wage laborer, commerce, industry, transport, service, etc. Most of its flood ridges were washed away and people are faced with the daily difficulty of tidal sea water engulfing their land (Daily Sun, 10 November, 2019). The study was conducted in the four villages namely Shaura, Faisamari, Jelekhali and kloser under the Gabur union and three villages of Kamalkathi, Khutikatha and Jhapa under the Padampukur union of Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira District. Data were collected during the period of 15 November to 10 December 2019 using interview schedule. A systematic research procedure was maintained to avoid possible bias. The study villages were selected on a discussion with the local experts and in consultation with local government institutes and vulnerable communities. The selected villages were most affected in the study Upazila. The survey questionnaire was prepared in a peer review process to make it consistent with the subject and local issues. The focus group discussions and informal discussions with the community members were used to collect information and compare with the survey data. Appropriate participants for the focus group discussions were selected from the questionnaire survey. Data and information given by the respondents was gathered carefully during the survey period. Open-ended questions were used to collect the data. In this way, quality of data was confirmed in every steps of the survey. Thus total 100 respondents were surveyed in seven villages’ under the two unions in the study area. The head of the household/family was given priority to answer to the questions. Due to absence of the head, another senior person of the family was considered to respond. Sometimes elder respondents answered the question in presence of all members of the family. In many cases, they all discussed before responding to some questions. The questionnaire was prepared to collect the relevant information and data from the study locations. The following four themes are the data analysis. The first theme of the questionnaire emphasized on the demographic, socio economic and livelihood of the study unions. The second theme focused perceptions and information about climate change and salinity problems. The third theme considered the salinity and water supply (state trend and loss) due to source of water in different period, extreme event like cyclone Bulbul affected sources of drinking water, while using the pond or PSF. The final or fourth theme covered the impact of salinity on living beings over the last twenty years caused by extreme events. Two FGD was conducted into the two study unions. Each FGD included 8 to 10 respondents (male and female). The FGDs were conducted with farmers and NGO workers. In one cases, some local knowledgeable persons were present in the group discussion. At the end of the FGDs, a draft paper was prepared with key messages from the discussions. The researcher carefully went through the descriptive responses given by the respondents to each question in order to understand the meaning they had communicated in the focus group discussions.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education Volume 31, No. 1&2, 2019: 13-27 ISSN 1011-3916

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The coastal districts from South West to South East of Bangladesh are vulnerable to climate change and climate variability issues. Some of the districts including Satkhira, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Bagerhut, Khulna, Barishal (out of 19) are particularly at a higher level of vulnerability probably because of their geographic location and topography. Satkhira, for example, is predicted to be one of the most substantially affected districts in the country because of the proximity of a large portion of its populations to the coast who are dependent on the natural resources base. The local communities may lose alternative livelihoods and income due to the ultimate consequences of climate change. Through the overall observations in the study areas are suffering from a wide range of climate change driven hazards and anthropogenic problems. They will also face challenges in agriculture sectors seriously hampered due to lack of freshwater for irrigation caused by climate change. Salinity concentration has already put a threat to the crop production and a significant yield loss has already been observed in the dry season which will ultimately affect livelihood, income generation and food security. The people of Satkhira are also critically exposed to disadvantages of non-climatic factors e.g. lack of safe water supply and sanitation, health services, poverty, poor housing and growing population pressure etc. It is expected that the climate change will be the significant barrier for the poverty alleviation efforts and attempts of both government and non-government organizations. Consequences in water and health sectors might be severe in the future in the coastal zone.

Knowledge Management: Journal