Public Project
Climate Chronicles
Copyright
Joy Saha
2024
Updated Feb 2024
Bangladesh is on the frontline of climate change, grappling with its devastating impacts across the nation. Once-predictable natural landscapes have transformed into unpredictable and challenging environments. Rivers that were once navigable have become shifting sandbars, forcing commuters to traverse dry riverbeds, while severe flooding submerges homes and renders clean drinking water scarce, highlighting the urgent need for effective climate action. In industrial areas, the relentless emissions from brick kilns contribute significantly to climate change, filling the air with toxic fumes and exacerbating the greenhouse effect. Coastal communities, struggling with the effects of rising sea levels and storm damage, resort to using felled trees for firewood—a stark symbol of their vulnerability. The contamination of drinking water and soil from rising sea levels contributes to a growing public health crisis, especially among the most vulnerable populations. Urban areas are not spared from the impacts of climate change. Roads submerged by floodwaters turn daily commutes into hazardous journeys. Villagers in vulnerable coastal regions rely on wooden boats to prepare for the impending rainy season, highlighting the ongoing battle against the encroaching sea. Erosion displaces families, forcing them into rapid and often chaotic urbanization, while makeshift measures like sandbags become a desperate attempt to stave off further damage. Amidst the inundation of farmlands, fishing emerges as a vital survival strategy, though the receding floodwaters often reveal the extent of the destruction—lost livestock, submerged properties, and communities struggling to rebuild. In this altered landscape, even the sight of a solitary bird perched on a tubewell captures the stark reality of a world where land and water are increasingly intertwined. This nation’s struggle against climate change is more than a fight for survival; it is a powerful call for global solidarity and action. The resilience shown in the face of these escalating challenges underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate strategies to protect vulnerable communities and preserve the environment for future generations.
