Bangladesh is a very flat and low-lying rural country located on the Bay of Bengal. It is home to many mighty rivers, the largest river delta and the largest mangrove forest in the world. This geographic location makes Bangladesh one of the country’s most vulnerable to climate change. The effects range from rising sea levels leading to the disappearance of land, to increasing salinization of soil and groundwater, to increasingly powerful cyclones, storm surges, destructive floods, and massive river erosion. Being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, climate change poses a severe risk for an incredible number of people. A report from the US government from 2018 suggests that 90 million people (56% of the population) live in “high climate exposure areas”, with 53 million people being subject to “very high” exposure. It has been estimated that one in seven inhabitants will be displaced by climate change by 2050.
The climate crisis is already a reality in Bangladesh, affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the country's coastal areas. The majority of people living in the rural coastal areas and on the edge of the Sundarbans mangrove forests are among the poorest communities in Bangladesh. They live in very close harmony with their natural environment and live mainly from catching fish and crabs, gathering wood, leaves, wild honey and other edible treasures of the forest. Their lives and livelihoods depend almost completely on the rivers, the sea, and the mangrove forest. This natural environment is being severely affected by climate change which poses great challenges to survival of affected communities.
Vanishing with the Waves
The sea is rough a day before Tropical Cyclone Mocha hits ashore in Teknaf Bangladesh on 13 May 2023 Mocha was classified as an extremely severe cyclonic storm half a million people were ordered to be relocated from coastal areas as the cyclone approached land
Vanishing with the Waves
One day before the predicted landfall of Tropical Cyclone Mocha in Bangladesh great danger signal 10 was issued Thousands of well-trained community volunteers marched through coastal villages to warn people to leave their homes and go to cyclone shelters in Teknaf Bangladesh on 13 May 2023
Vanishing with the Waves
A man rides his motorcycle past a fallen tree after Tropical Cyclone Mocha had hit ashore in Teknaf Bangladesh on 14 May 2023 Despite the predictions the country was spared from the worst this time as the Cyclone finally made landfall in Northern Myanmar
Vanishing with the Waves
A little boy looks out of his house which is already tilted towards the river and surrounded by high tide water in the Kalabogi village close to the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh on 04 September 2023 It won t be long before his home will be completely swallowed by the water
Vanishing with the Waves
In this place there used to be a Madrasa Islamic religious school The building was completely demolished by high-tide water due to the risinge sea level in the Kalabogi village next to the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh on 01 September 2023
Vanishing with the Waves
The Hindu community made the decision to demolish their temple due to river erosion at the village Kalabogi which is next to the Sunderban forest in Bangladesh on on 02 September 2023
Vanishing with the Waves
Archana prepared her son in front of her broken house a Southern coastal village in Bangladesh on 02 September 2023 4 months before she moved from another place and built her house in this village But after 4 months later again she lost her house due to the river erosion
Vanishing with the Waves
Afjal Mia is on the way to a doctor with his son on a mud road soaked by rain Nahid had been suffering from fever for the past 4 days in the Kalabogi village close to the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh on 01 September 2023 In the coastal areas of Bangladesh roads are frequently damaged by high tide and flood waters Afjal has to walk on the slippery path for three kilometers to reach the next healthcare clinic
Vanishing with the Waves
Jannatul 6 takes a shower in the pouring rain She lives in a coastal village Kalabogi close to the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh on 03 September 2023 This area of the country is most directly and severely affected by climate change and exposed to increasingly severe flooding river erosion and tropical cyclones Jannatul has been attending school since January 2023 but is oftentimes forced to skip classes during high tide and because of heavy rains and floods during the monsoon season that cut off her way to school
Vanishing with the Waves
This old couple lives alone near the Sunderban forest in Southern Bangladesh their children moved away years ago to make a living elsewhere because of the harsh climate reality in the area To survive they catch fish together every day They never moved anywhere without each other on 31 August 2023
Vanishing with the Waves
A part of the coastal hanging village Kalabogi While it was connected to the mainland just a few years ago it is now completely detached and completely surrounded by sea water during high tide The village is located in the middle of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh on 31 August 2023
Vanishing with the Waves
Children cross flood-damaged paths to reach their homes in the Kalabogi village close to the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh on 31 August 2023 Many dangers lurk in the floodwaters including snakes and crocodiles
