87.4% people in Patuakhali and Barguna directly affected by climate change, 7% already displaced: Study

Around 87.4% of people in the coastal districts of Patuakhali and Barguna have been directly impacted by climate change. In comparison, 7% have already been displaced due to climate-induced disasters, according to findings from a study by Wave Foundation and World Resources Institute (WRI). 

The findings were shared on Monday (29 December) at the Climate Governance Symposium organised by Wave Foundation and WRI at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre. The symposium was held under the project "Strengthening Climate Governance with Grassroots Participation in Bangladesh (SCGG)", implemented across four upazilas and 32 unions in Patuakhali and Barguna districts.

Sharing the study findings, Centre for Social Research (CSR) Research Director Ahmed Borhan said, the social audit reveals that frequent cyclones, tidal surges, salinity intrusion, river erosion and prolonged waterlogging have severely disrupted livelihoods, housing, food security and access to safe drinking water in the two districts.

From the study findings, he also said, around 6.9% of people have already been forced to relocate, often moving to embankments, informal settlements, or nearby urban areas with limited access to services.

It also said, around 75% of Union Parishads have inactive disaster management committees, and in 80% of cases, public demands and proposals are not reflected in budgets. Approximately 84% of development projects are based on top-down planning rather than the actual needs of local communities, often misaligned with real requirements.

Transparency and accountability are also lacking 78% of Union Parishad officials exhibit deficits in transparency, 72% of work reports do not reach the public, and 82% of people perceive financial operations as opaque. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen bottom-up planning, enhance citizen participation, and ensure financial transparency at the local level to improve governance and align development initiatives with community priorities.

Experts warned that climate-induced displacement is likely to rise without urgent adaptation measures.

In the opening panel on "Challenges and Pathways to Strengthening Local Partnerships", chaired by Wave Foundation Executive Director Mohsin Ali, Shahanara Yasmin Lily, Joint Secretary (Law) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said the government is working within its financial capacity to address climate impacts, including ensuring access to safe drinking water, but emphasised the need for greater citizen responsibility and engagement.

Nahid Sultana, Assistant Project Director of the Green Climate Fund at the Department of Women Affairs, called for collective action on climate resilience and greening initiatives. Dr Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CRPD, highlighted the lack of coordination between climate planning and implementation, noting that strengthening Union Parishads is critical for effective climate governance at both local and national levels.

In his concluding remarks, Mohsin Ali said Bangladesh is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, yet climate budgets are often underutilised due to weak accountability and monitoring. Enhancing the capacity, budget and oversight of Union Parishads, he said, could significantly improve climate responses nationwide.

The second session, titled "Climate Migration and Compensation Mechanisms," highlighted the absence of legal recognition of climate migration in Bangladesh. Speakers stressed the need for credible rehabilitation and compensation frameworks, alongside improved access to safe water and sanitation to reduce climate-related risks.

The social audit proposed short, medium and long-term recommendations, including regular disaster management and ward meetings at Union Parishads, mandatory open budget sessions, environmental impact assessments for infrastructure projects, gender-responsive climate policies, and effective rehabilitation and compensation mechanisms.

Experts warned that in coastal districts where nearly nine in ten people are already experiencing direct climate impacts, failing to ensure grassroots participation in climate governance could further intensify displacement and deepen vulnerability in Bangladesh's coastal belt.