Rising Waters and Spirit of Survival: Tales from Dhunot, Bogra, Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a country with diverse ecological zones, including floodplain or char lands, wetlands, hills, drought-prone and coastal areas. Char lands make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s total land and support nearly 20 million people. Additionally, 15-20 million people live along riverbanks and face displacement risks from erosion.
Chars, primarily in 20 districts like Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Sirajganj, Pabna, Manikganj etc, which form through river erosion and sediment deposition. These areas are vital for agriculture and biodiversity but highly vulnerable to floods, soil erosion and climate change.
Char land residents are highly vulnerable to extreme poverty due to a fragile environment, limited resources, few income opportunities, poor connectivity, and a lack of essential services. Climate impacts include crop loss, land degradation, displacement, low productivity, poor income, food and water insecurity, etc.
These vulnerabilities highlight the urgent need for development and sustainable solutions to improve life and livelihoods in these fragile areas.
Life Fraught with Challenges
The Dhunat is an Upazila of Bogra District which is geographically defined by the Jamuna River, sandy plains spanning 247.73 square kilometers and is a part of Charland of Bangladesh.
Its rural population is primarily relying heavily on agriculture for livelihood. The main crops are rice, jute, mustard, corn, and wheat, with fishing, small-scale trade, and cottage industries also supporting the economy.
The community values traditional practices and strong family bonds, but faces challenges such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy, dowry, gender-based violence, and limited healthcare access.
The area experiences river flooding during the monsoon season (June to October), leading to major damage to crops, homes, and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, government and development sectors efforts aim to improve livelihood, agricultural, production, education, healthcare and infrastructure.
Hazards: The char lands of Bangladesh, particularly in the Dhunot Upazila, face various climatic risks due to their riverine geography and climate change. Flooding from the Jamuna River during monsoons significantly damages agricultural fields, homes, and displaces residents.
Riverbank erosion intensifies vulnerability as the river alters its course. In contrast, the dry season brings drought-prone conditions, reducing water availability and harming crops like rice. Flash floods from upstream rainfall and monsoon rains cause sudden destruction to crops and infrastructure.
Waterlogging from monsoons harms crops and leads to poor sanitation, while winter cold waves burden low-income communities. These hazards, intensified by climate change, pose significant challenges to the livelihoods and resilience of Charland communities.
Vulnerabilities: Social vulnerabilities occur due to displacement and limited access to essential services like healthcare, education, and clean water, leading to increased health risks such as malnutrition and waterborne diseases.
Economic vulnerabilities stem from dependence on climate-sensitive livelihoods, landlessness caused by erosion, poverty and a lack of income diversification. Environmental vulnerabilities include soil degradation from erosion, reduced agricultural productivity and biodiversity loss, which further impacts resource-dependent livelihoods.
Climatic vulnerabilities are worsened by climate change, with increasing extreme weather events, irregular rainfall and prolonged droughts leaving communities. Institutional vulnerabilities involve inadequate disaster preparedness, poor policy implementation and exclusion from mainstream development.
These areas are left in a state of underdevelopment and neglect. These interconnected challenges collectively sustain cycles of poverty and diminish resilience within the Char land communities.
Impact on Life, Livelihoods and Environment: Impact on life includes displacement due to riverbank erosion and floods. Health risks are heightened by waterborne diseases, malnutrition and cold waves, particularly affecting children and the elderly.
Livelihoods suffer significantly, as agriculture is disrupted by flooding, erosion, drought, and soil degradation, reducing crop yields. Floods threaten fishing and livestock by causing fish stock losses and livestock deaths. Cottage industries face significant challenges due to the prevalence of damaged materials and restricted access to markets. Seasonal unemployment worsens economic challenges.
Environmental impacts include ecosystem degradation from erosion and sedimentation, loss of vegetation, and declining water quality from flood contamination. Biodiversity loss is severe as habitats are destroyed, and overexploitation of natural resources depletes flora and fauna.
Additionally, soil fertility declines due to erosion and sand deposition, rendering agricultural lands less productive. These interconnected impacts highlight the urgent need for sustainable interventions to support char land communities and their environment.
Innovations in Resilience
Some NGOs are working to enhance resilience in vulnerable communities through an integrated development approach. This initiative aims to build Smart Houses using development funds and to implement innovative practices like floating gardens, 3D gardens, vertical and hanging gardens, raised bed farming with ducks and goats, mulching, vermicomposting, pest management, solar home systems, and yard meetings.
Additional efforts include offering services, partnering with government programs, participating in fairs, and securing media coverage in print and online. Vocational training is essential for skill development in areas like tailoring, mobile mechanics, automobile repair, beauty services, and handicrafts, while also utilizing social safety nets.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a pioneer in contributing to the development of their several partner organizations. The Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) proposes setting up a Satellite Climate Centre for the Char region. This hub provides tailored knowledge and solutions to help Char communities adapt to climate change.
Building a Resilient Future
To overcome the challenges in char lands, a comprehensive approach is required. Sharing knowledge about Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) technologies can enhance the lives of char dwellers, and using localized methods can lead to more effective solutions. Introducing sustainable practices and good innovations tailored to the unique needs of farmers is essential.
Empowering communities and main streaming their efforts into national development frameworks can enhance their resilience. Establishing partnerships at national and international levels can mobilize resources for sustainable development.
Action-oriented social research addressing gender, education, health and financial issues is crucial to tackling emerging challenges. Improving market access and business services will boost livelihoods. Additionally, incorporating women’s inclusion and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into all initiatives will strengthen community resilience.
These strategies collectively aim to build a sustainable and resilient community. Dhunot and its people express the resilience and insistence that define the vulnerable communities of Bangladesh. Their lives, shaped by the rising waters and the spirit of survival, remind us of the importance of collective action in the face of climate adversity.
As the world grapples with the challenges of a changing climate, the stories from Dhunot offer valuable lessons in adaptation, innovation and hope.
