AMTALI, BARGUNA, Jan 10: The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly severe in Barguna's coastal upazilas of Amtali and Taltali, posing serious threats to agriculture, housing, fisheries, public health and overall livelihood.
Rising sea level, frequent cyclones, tidal surges, river erosion and the spread of salinity have intensified in recent years, leaving local communities in a prolonged state of uncertainty and hardship.
Experts say Barguna is among the most climate-vulnerable districts due to its location along the Bay of Bengal. With sea level rising at an alarming rate, large stretches of farmland in coastal polders are regularly flooded by tidal water. As a result, fertile topsoil is being washed away while salinity continues to spread across cultivable land.
Farmers report that irregular monsoon patterns and salinity intrusion have led to reduced yields of Aman paddy and other seasonal crops. Land that once produced two to three harvests a year can now barely support even one. River erosion has also intensified in both upazilas. Settlements along the banks of the Payra and other rivers suffer frequent land collapse, damaging homesteads, roads and communication networks. Many families are being forced to relocate repeatedly. Locals allege that delays in repairing damaged embankments and protective structures are worsening the situation.
Salinity has also triggered a serious crisis of safe drinking water. Around 90 percent of shallow tube wells no longer function properly, while water available in many others has become too saline for household use. This has reduced access to potable water and increased health risks. Post-flood water-logging and poor sanitation conditions are contributing to outbreaks of diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases. Meanwhile, frequent cyclones and tidal surges have become almost routine for residents, yet the scale of damage in recent years has intensified, putting greater pressure on housing and infrastructure reconstruction. Educational institutions, roads, embankments and health centres are often damaged, disrupting essential services and delaying a return to normal life.
Fisher-folk are also facing direct climate impacts. Rough sea conditions, frequent storm warnings, fishing bans and growing safety risks have reduced working hours and drastically cut incomes. Disruption to fish breeding in rivers and canals has also affected local markets.
Experts and locals stress the need for sustainable, urgent measures. They call for speedy embankment repairs, alternative safe water sources, expansion of salt-tolerant crops, mangrove plantation in erosion-prone areas, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. Strengthening community preparedness and adaptation-based development plans is also essential, they say. Without coordinated action now, they fear damages in coastal upazilas like Amtali and Taltali will become far more devastating in the future.
