Lack of livelihoods, services worsening climate displacement crisis

Government efforts to address climate-induced displacement remain largely short-term and fragmented, focusing mainly on post-disaster relief and temporary housing, while neglecting livelihoods, employment, health, and education, speakers said at a seminar in Bhola.

They stressed that addressing internal climate displacement requires integrating it into national and local development plans and budgets; strengthening the institutional, technical, and financial capacity of local government bodies; expanding community-based rehabilitation and livelihood-focused adaptation programmes; creating local employment opportunities; ensuring basic human rights; and constructing sustainable coastal embankments to reduce future climate risks.

The observations were made at a seminar titled "Challenges of Internal Climate Displacement and Sustainable Rehabilitation", organised by COAST Foundation on 24 December 2025 at the Bhola Sadar Upazila Parishad conference room. The programme was chaired by Upazila Project Implementation Officer, Md Ziaur Rahman, and moderated by MA Hasan, Head of Climate Change at COAST Foundation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Md Arifuzzaman, attended as chief guest.

In his keynote presentation, MA Hasan stated that emergency aid and isolated resettlement initiatives were insufficient to address climate displacement. He stressed the need to strengthen local management to protect the dignity of displaced people, ensure sustainable resettlement, and build resilience against future climate risks, noting that local governments often lack the resources and expertise required for long-term solutions.

Md Arifuzzaman stated that severe river erosion was displacing communities and leaving people destitute. "We cannot fight nature—we must adapt," he said, adding that urgent action was needed to ensure access to clean water and create local income opportunities.

Md Ziaur Rahman stated that resettling displaced people on government khas land remained a major challenge, as most such land is located along riverbanks and in char areas. He noted that displaced families would prefer safer plots on the mainland, while infrastructure such as sluice gates, drainage canals, and embankments were deteriorating.

Upazila Administrative Officer, Tariqul Islam, stated that Bhola was highly vulnerable to river erosion due to its geography and called for sustainable embankments, local employment generation, and technical education for youth.

Senior journalist, Mokammel Haque Milon, and Neamat Ullah, district representative of Prothom Alo, criticised poorly planned housing projects, stating that many lacked communication links, electricity, and employment opportunities. They stressed the importance of genuine public consultation before implementing rehabilitation projects.

Displaced residents also shared their experiences. Md Abbas of Charchatkimara stated that the lack of embankments had left communities living in constant fear, while Asma Begum of Beduria Union said her home along the Tentulia River might not survive the next monsoon. Arshad Mazi of Dhonia Union said many families had already migrated to Dhaka and Chattogram in search of livelihoods.

Representatives from civil society organisations, NGOs, journalists and climate-displaced communities attended the seminar.