Away from Home
Bangladesh is suffering from acute climate change which compels millions of its population to be displaced from their place of origin.
Climate change is real
Climate change is one of the most burning issues at this time throughout the world. Climate change is damaging infrastructure, communities, and living, compelling populations from their place of origin. In recent years throughout the world, victims of environmental disasters are growing in number than the victims of war or man-made forceful migration. Bangladesh is exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. Bangladesh experiences several kinds of calamities almost every year due to climate change impact. Erosion, flooding, cyclones, sea-level rise, storms, drought, and landslides are displacing huge numbers of the population. By 2050, seventeen percent of Bangladesh’s coastlines will be submerged and one in every seven people will be displaced by climate change.
Bangladesh is situated on the delta of the Ganges- Brahmaputra- Meghna rivers systems, the largest river delta in the world. More than 160 million people live in the delta of Bangladesh and depend on its distinct landscapes for their living. This delta is highly vulnerable due to river erosion.
There is no other disaster like river erosion
River erosion is one of the main natural disasters in Bangladesh with huge and long-term socio-economic consequences. According to a survey report, Bangladesh could lose about 2,800 hectares of land in 2021 due to river erosion. A huge number of households, crops on large tracts of land, structures, and trees were eroded by the river.
Left: A farmer is seen taking a few goats through the area affected by river erosion in Barishal, June 2021. Middle: A major road in Charbaria Union is seen to be disappearing into the river due to river erosion in Barishal, June, 2021. Right: Some parts of a house are seen on the side of the road as the house is hit by river erosion in Barishal, September 2021.
Across Bangladesh, thousands of families have been rendered homeless because of river erosion. It is estimated that about one million people become affected each year by riverbank erosion. River took away their existence. The shelter, security, memories, and belongings everything they have had is lost. River erosion compels people to migrate or leave their place of origin and destroys the livelihood, cultural heritage, and social fabric of entire communities. When they are displaced from their place of birth, they are disconnected from their source of income, and other livelihood options, forcing them to take up new livelihood activities.
River erosion in Bangladesh
River erosion is a very ancient and severe problem in this country. Although floods are considered major disasters in this country, river erosion is the number one natural disaster for the agrarian people. About 80% of the total area of Bangladesh is covered by river basins. One of the major rivers of the country is Padma, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Kaliganga, Dhaleshwari, Meghna, Arial Khan, Banshi, Dakatiya, Kirtankhola, Karnafuli, Kumar, Kushiyara, Surma, Teesta, Ghaghat, Kangs, Matamuhri, Sangu, Mahananda, and Karatoya, apart from that, there are about 300 small and big rivers in Bangladesh.
The coastline of these rivers is about 24 thousand 14 kilometers in length. Of these, at least 12,000 km of coastline is identified as erosion-prone areas. Whose erosion continues throughout the year to a greater or lesser extent. According to various estimates, about 25,000 acres of land in Bangladesh are being washed away by the river every year due to erosion. Every year millions of people are displaced by erosion, And the number of displaced families is increasing.
Riverbank Erosion Map of Bangladesh. Source: BWDB
The map is changing due to river erosion
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the worst affected districts are Sirajganj, Bogra, Kurigram, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, and Gaibandha in the northern part of the country and Shariatpur, Chandpur, Faridpur, Rajbari, and Manikganj in Dhaka zone, Tangail and Jamalpur in Mymensingh zone and the Barishal coastal areas in the southern part of the country.
The southern Barishal district is the most riverine area in the country, where people travel more by river than by land. A large part of the people of this region depends on the river for their livelihood. The people of several villages of this district have lost everything due to river erosion. River erosion has continued in different villages of different unions of Barishal district year after year. And not only croplands or housing have been lost in this erosion, but also educational institutions, mosques, and other structures have been lost into the river. Almost all the unions of this district are being affected by river erosion every year. The map of this district is getting smaller as a result of continuous river erosion.
Why does the river erode?
The higher speed of the current of the river and the more angular it hits, the more the bank of the river erodes. Moreover, it creates strong waves. The soft clay on the inner side of the river bank erodes due to the impact of the waves and collapses along with the upper soil.
On the other hand, Occupying or closing canals or ditches for drainage in urban areas increases the water pressure on rivers during the monsoon season. Excess water pressure then hit the shore. The result is erosion. In addition to the aforementioned man-made causes, the river also erodes as a result of natural causes. Due to the effect of the water cycle, the strong currents of the river continue to flow downstream and hit the river banks. Because of this continuous severe hit of water, the land begins to erode. In addition, if the river encounters any obstruction in the flow of water, it is severely hit. The river often changes its course and hits again and again. And in this way, the river takes away people's homes, farmlands, trees, shops, mosques-temples, schools-colleges, memories, and belongings.
Impacts of river erosion
River erosion has devastating socio-economic consequences. Most of the victims consider river erosion to be a natural phenomenon but on many occasions, people think of river erosion as the 'will of God'. River erosion is increasing national poverty. In recent years, the level of economic loss and catastrophes of people due to river erosion has drastically intensified. The effects of land loss mostly include damage to homestead land, livestock, crops, trees, and housing structures. People who have lost their homes are forced to move to another place without any alternative and fall into catastrophic situations. Every year about one million people in the country are direct victims of river erosion. The whole financial loss is estimated at $ 500 million per year. An estimated 0.3 million internally displaced persons typically seek refuge on roads, dams, and government-acquired land. River erosion affects people badly. River erosion is a catastrophe for rural agriculture. In addition to housings, it destroys infrastructure, communications. and farmland. It affects the source of income from the crop to the vulnerable people. Affected people lose their wealth and everything and become indebted. Researchers have found that lost land is much more than land regained from the riverbed. That erosion-accretion event is a feature of river flow in Bangladesh and has a great impact on local politics.
Displacement is the instant effect of river erosion. Some of the displaced people move to nearby areas or some move to faraway.
In affected areas, most families have experienced displacement at a certain point in their lifetime. Some have even been displaced more than five-six times. A survey conducted in the slums found that most of the migrants living there have been affected by river erosion. Most of the climate migrants became day labor workers or rickshaw pullers. A big portion of the migrants remains unemployed due to a lack of job opportunities.
The Ground Reality: Narrative on four internally displaced families due to river erosion in Barishal district.
The internal displacement due to river erosion is an annual crisis. There are about 4 million displaced people in the country who live a floating life. Displaced people from river erosion experience extensive socio-economic poverty and marginalization as a result of forced displacement from their place of origin. Victims have been in the curse of displacement for a long time. Despite many efforts, life does not return to its previous form. They are never able to build a proper house to protect themselves from erosion. Displacement leads to disruption of their livelihood and mental and physical condition. In such a situation, the victim's family is gradually sinking into the abyss of uncertainty and insecurity. Due to the lack of a stable residence and long-term occupation on hand, a serious identity crisis engulfs the victims. People living in the south, especially in the coastal areas, are the most vulnerable people caused by unintended and serious environmental calamities such as river erosion. Displacements by river erosion regulate the direction of internal migration. In this ground reality, most of them move to the cities to live in the slums, while many cannot afford to go to the city because of necessary funds. So, many are again located near the bank of the river like Mohammad Ayub Ali Hawladar.
Ayub Ali Hawladar
Mohammad Ayub Ali Hawladar lives in the coastal area of the Barishal district. His house has been destroyed by river erosion. He had a lot of land but all his lands have been taken away by the river. He is in a lot of trouble with his family. Water comes into the house every day. Many have gone to other places from his village. He has no land anywhere else. Now he does not know where he will go.
Mohammad Ayub Ali Hawlader is not the only one. Many coastline villagers like him have also lost everything due to the erosion of the Kirtankhola river. Besides, many of these families are headed by women. The Women-headed families who are displaced or living on the river bank are the most vulnerable group.
Rangila
Rangila is a widow who lives alone with her family on the bank of the river in Barishal district. All of her lands are washed away by river erosion. He used to earn some money and run his family. His earnings have been hampered by river erosion. She doesn’t sleep for the fear that anytime his house may be taken to the river. She has nowhere to go now. She is trying to cope with the situation somehow to survive.
Most of these erosion victims moved to urban slums around the city, with poor housing conditions, overcrowding, and inadequate sanitation. They go to the city with the dream of a better life but in reality, they suffer a lot from poverty and other consequence.
Ali Hossain Farazi
Ali Hossain Farazi moved to Dhaka after his house was destroyed in the river erosion. And he could not run the family properly there due to scarcity, his family broke up and left him. Then he moved to another city Barishal and now lives alone in Rasulpur slum. He has nothing here. He is somehow managing his expenses by driving a van or working as a laborer. He is hoping to get his broken family back.
Nasima Begum
Nasima Begum, a former resident of Charbaria Union affected by the river erosion, will never forget how all their belongings vanished in an instant. There were houses, there was also paddy land, but everything was lost in the river erosion. She lamented that when the house is burnt, ashes remain, but nothing remains in the river erosion. She now lives with his family in the Rasulpur slum of Barishal city. The only source of income for their family is their son, who is not getting a regular job. They are living a very helpless life in the city slums. Many like their families have taken refuge here or elsewhere.
In Bangladesh, 283 locations, 85 cities, and growth centers, including 2400 km of riverside lines, are at risk of erosion. There is no other disaster like river erosion and Internally displaced families face various unforeseen difficulties in many states of displacement. Hence, displaced families have to adapt to a new way of life which is mostly categorized by marginalization. Poverty is the utmost outcome of river erosion. River erosion makes poor people poor again and rural poor become urban poor.
