Bangladesh is severely impacted by climate change and its intensifying consequences. More frequent droughts, floods, powerful cyclones, melting Himalayan glaciers exacerbating riverbank erosion, rising sea levels threatening coastlines and increasing the salinity of rivers and soil, are causing significant losses in crops, property, and human lives.
Climate events also lead to escalating unemployment and poverty. Forced internal migrations are becoming commonplace, with approximately 2,000 people arriving in (already overcrowded) Dhaka daily. Many climate migrants end up in urban slums, while others settle on unstable riverine islands known as "chars." Thousands more seek to emigrate to India or Gulf countries for work opportunities.
Bangladesh, densely populated and largely situated less than 12 meters above sea level, is particularly vulnerable to global warming. Current predictions on rising sea levels indicate that 15% - 20% of the country could vanish by 2050, potentially displacing 25 to 30 million people and leading to conflicts in the region.
To achieve climate justice, Western nations, largely responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, must adopt a global approach to the complex interplay between the environment and the society in this precarious Asian region. Moreover, Bangladesh needs financial and technological assistance to address the challenges it faces as the first country to experience such large-scale consequences of global warming and climate change.
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Portrait statement for Climate Injustice
For this series, I decided to shoot portraits of people in their respective environments, or what is left of them. For many, it has changed (and will continue to change) drastically over the years. I felt it was a good way to show that they are not responsible for what is happening to them.
Climate Injustice 01
Bangladesh Kuakata Bay of Bengal Barisal Division br br Portrait of Alamin 36 years old br He had been working in a saw mill for eight years when Cyclone Sidr struck His corrugated aluminium house was flattened and he had to rebuild it two km inland Alamin has experienced climate change firsthand For instance 20 years ago the shoreline was three km away and there was a dense forest where his is standing now In the background the few remaining trees have been uprooted by coastal erosion due to rising sea levels
Climate Injustice 02
Bangladesh Manpura Island in the northern Bay of Bengal at the mouth of the Meghna river Barisal Division br br br Portrait of Gopal around 65-70 years old Like many villagers he doesn t know his age br br Gopal is from a place called Kolatuly near Cox s Bazar His house collapsed into the ocean He migrated here 15 years ago with this family and built a new house
Climate Injustice 03
Bangladesh Barisal Barisal Division br br br Portrait of a boy watching the monsoon rain in front of his house made of corrugated aluminium and bamboo at the mouth of the Meghna river next to Bhola island The house is protected from river erosion by geotextile bags filled with sand br br Bhola island is - 100 km long with a population of 1 9 million It is becoming more elongated because of Meghna river erosion It is only 6 feet 1 8 m above sea level at its most elevated point Large portions of the island have already been inundated by sea water and the island is at serious risk of disappearing entirely
Climate Injustice 04
Bangladesh Kuakata Bay of Bengal Barisal Division br br Portrait of Mohamed Hemayet Howlladr 42 years old br He has been a fisherman since Cyclone Sidr 2007 br Mohamed s home made of tin corrugated aluminium is on the beach He knows that when the sea rises he will have to move his house He recalls when the shoreline was 3 km away from where it stands now This building remnant was the office of Gangamoti National Park destroyed 4 years ago by the rising sea level
Climate Injustice 05
Bangladesh Gabura Island Satkhira District Khulna Division next to the Kholpetua river not far from the Indian border br br Portrait of a lady standing on top of a dam made of geobags protecting the island
Climate Injustice 06
Bangladesh Kuakata Bay of Bengal Barisal Division br br Portrait of a local tourist wearing an abaya and a hijab br br Her boyfriend not in the picture takes photos of her posing on the tree trunk br br Local tourists go to restaurants and fancy hotels rent motorbikes to ride on the beach and take photos for Instagram Meanwhile the local fishermen are living in fragile tin huts near the beach earning just 5 - 10 per day These two worlds coexist yet they do not mingle br It s the poorest people who suffer from climate change
Climate Injustice 07
Bangladesh Dohar Mainat Ghat next to the Padma river Dhaka District br br Portrait of a group of workers taking a nap during a break using geobags as blankets br br These workers are filling hundreds of geobags with sand in an incessant ballet The bags are thrown into the Padma river to build a protective dam
Climate Injustice 08
Bangladesh Bogura Saria Kandy Rajshahi Division br Portrait of a group of men standing in front of the roof of a dismantled house br br Wearing a green shirt the owner of the house Mojid 60 years old br in the blue shirt Shaminur 40 years old br in yellow Taleb 40 years old br in a grey shirt on the left with a towel on his shoulder Rachid 35 years old br br A few days ago they dismantled the aluminium house in anticipation of the Jumuna river bursting its banks They will assemble another temporary house that will likely become permanent These men have all lost their homes 4-5 times already br br Around 1PM shortly after the river surged around thirty homes collapsed into the river Local elected officials took care of the residents and the next day the government distributed a week of food supplies Now they will have to fend for themselves with no financial support from the government
Climate Injustice 09
Bangladesh Kuakata Bay of Bengal Barisal Division br Portrait of Harun 38 years old and his wife Khadizar 32 years old br br Born in Kuakata Harun was in the construction business and now drives an auto rickshaw During Cyclone Sidr in 2007 his brother s home was taken by the sea Standing on this small piece of land he recalls that 15-20 years ago the shoreline was three km away
Climate Injustice 10
Bangladesh Gabura Island Satkhira District Khulna Division next to the Kholpetua river not far from the Indian border br br Portrait of Jobeda Katun and her goose Like many villagers she does not know her age She has lived alone since her husband was killed by a tiger eight years ago a common occurance in the Sunderbans region She has a goose that she will sell to make some money
Climate Injustice 11
Bangladesh Kuakata Bay of Bengal Barisal Division br br Portrait of Ali Hossein 35 years old left and Shahidul 27 years old right posing on the beach in front of the remaining trees part of a national park which have been uprooted by coastal erosion due to rising sea levels br br In 2007 during Cyclone Sidr Shahidul s home was destroyed by floodwaters forcing him and his father to climb a tree to survive Now 27 Shahidul has worked for the past three years as a construction worker in the Maldives building mosques on several islands Hanimadhoo Kurdubushi and Yabondhu Today he earns his living here in Kuakata as a fisherman Shahidul s friend Ali Hossein also a fisherman lost his house to flooding during Cyclone Sidr in November 2007
Climate Injustice 12
Bangladesh Bogura Saria Kandy Rajshahi Division br br Portrait of Abdul Samad 70 years old pumping water from a well in front of his home Years ago the river was far away by the greenery in the background br br Abdul lost a home to the river 20 years ago but not this time Jamuna river took 35 homes on September 4th 2023 He works on a farm and is lucky because his home is still standing
