Unhealed wounds: Examining the lasting impacts of the 2024 coastal floods

Following the devastating floods of August 2024, several changes occurred in agriculture and the environment across Bangladesh's coastal districts. At least seven of those impacts are still visible today.

Many rural and inter-district roads have yet to be repaired; poultry farms across village after village have shut down; silt deposition in the Meghna River has increased the river distance between Bhola and Lakshmipur; salinity levels in the Meghna's water have risen; and canals and wetlands have become clogged with sediment. Although these changes became apparent within days of the floods, they have remained largely unchanged even two years later.

This information emerged after visiting different areas of the coastal districts of Lakshmipur and Noakhali and speaking with local residents. Locals say that even if two or three of these impacts become permanent, they could pose serious threats to livelihoods in the region.

Flood-damaged roads still unrepaired

Field visits across different parts of Lakshmipur show that the condition of most roads remains unchanged. In the post-flood period, the rural transport system has nearly collapsed. Many rural roads were damaged during the floods, and most have still not been repaired, causing severe disruptions to communication.

The Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Lakshmipur said, "For a long time before 2024, many roads in the district could not be repaired due to lack of funding. Then the floods damaged even more roads. During the floods, 146 roads across 40 unions in Lakshmipur were completely destroyed. Most of them still could not be rehabilitated."

He added that under LGED, about 1,100 kilometres of roads in Lakshmipur require urgent repair at an estimated cost of Tk531 crore, while Tk33.87 crore has been sought to repair 46 damaged culverts and bridges.

Many poultry farms have shut down

Since the onset of the floods in August 2024, 17 poultry farms in Char Kadira of Ramgati upazila in Lakshmipur and Char Kaunia union of Noakhali Sadar upazila have shut down and have yet to reopen. Hossain, a poultry farmer from the banks of the Bhulua River in Char Kadira, said his farm was closed due to floodwater and has not been restarted. "There is no guarantee that floods won't happen again," he added.

According to him, hundreds of farms in Lakshmipur and Noakhali were shut down due to flooding and never reopened.

Data from the Ministry of Livestock shows that due to the August floods, out of 8,000 farms in Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur, 4,000 poultry farmers were affected, with financial losses exceeding Tk567 crore. District Livestock Office sources in Lakshmipur say 423 farms were shut down during the floods, with more closing afterward. None have resumed operations.

Solution: Local farmers and district livestock officials suggest providing loans or financial assistance through various organisations to help farmers repair and restart their farms. This would help stabilise meat and egg production in the domestic market.

Siltation in the Meghna increases river distance between Lakshmipur and Bhola

The Bhola–Lakshmipur river route is a key waterway linking the island district of Bhola with 21 districts of the south-west. The route used to be 18 kilometres long. According to Atikur Rahman, master of the Krishani ferry, in January 2024 ferries had to travel around 20 kilometres. But by January 2026, vessels must travel at least 32–35 kilometres.

"The biggest damage after the 2024 floods has been on the Bhola–Lakshmipur route. The distance has nearly doubled in a short time," he said. Areas once used by ferries are now heavily silted, making navigation impossible.

Regular passenger Shah Alam said the river appears to have filled up since the floods, holding water only during high tide. Another passenger, Abdul Awal, echoed this view, saying massive sand and silt deposits have created sandbars throughout the river. "There has been no research on this, even though the river has filled up within months," they said.

Atikur Rahman added that numerous submerged sandbars force ferries to detour an additional 16–18 kilometres, increasing travel time and fuel costs. During low tide, water depth drops below four feet, worsening the situation.

Solution: Noakhali District Information Officer Md Mamunur Rashid, Bhola Development Forum International member Md Humayun Kabir, and Lakshmipur resident Mehedi Hasan Liton said a permanent solution would require either constructing a bridge on the Bhola–Lakshmipur route or dredging the river.

Environmental organisation Sabuj Bangladesh Director Ismail Hossain Sabuj stressed that maintaining the natural flow of the Meghna requires urgent removal of silt from the riverbed.

Unfamiliar fish appearing in rivers and canals

During the August floods, around 90 percent of land in Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur was submerged. One immediate impact was that fish from thousands of farms were washed away, wiping out farmers' long-term investments. Fish were found on floors, courtyards and roads. These were mainly native freshwater species, said Md Swapan, a fish trader from Fazumiarhat in Lakshmipur.

Floating fisherman Karim Sardar from Majuchowdhuryhat said the Meghna has been full of native fish since the floods. Hilsa fishermen often catch carp and giol fish instead. Even after nearly two years, native fish remain abundant, unlike in the past.

Residents of Underchar union in Noakhali Sadar and Char Badam union in Ramgati said canals and ponds that had not seen native fish for 10–15 years are now teeming with species such as shol, taki, gojar, shing, puti, boal, coral and tengra.

They also reported the appearance of unfamiliar fish, particularly one resembling the native kholshe but slightly larger. Locally called "hybrid kholshe," the fish is cheap and popular among low-income consumers, though there are concerns about its invasive potential.

At Fazumiarhat bridge, a new native fish market has emerged, selling 2–3 tonnes of carp and giol fish daily. Traders say they have not seen such quantities in a decade.

Swapan noted that the surge in native fish is natural after floods, but it may also explain why hilsa have retreated—either due to competition or riverbed siltation. If fish stocks decline later, thousands of fishermen could face livelihood crises.

Rising salinity in Meghna water

Salinity levels in the Meghna are increasing. Residents of Alexander area in Ramgati said salinity used to appear in March–April, but since December 2025, the water has become undrinkable. Farming in nearby fields has become impossible.

Statistics from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute show rising salinity in Meghna waters across Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and parts of Noakhali and Lakshmipur.

Local woman Aleya said tidal water now brings visible salt deposits. Fishermen in Kamalnagar also confirmed salinity as a new and growing problem.

Solution: Meherjan Banu, a resident of Alexander, said strong embankments are needed to prevent saline water from entering farmland. She also stressed the need for salt-tolerant housing, crops and livestock practices to prevent livelihood crises.

Most canals filled with sediment

The Bhulua River flows between Lakshmipur and Noakhali. In Char Pagla, the river now resembles farmland. Locals said the riverbed has risen by 2–3 feet since the floods. Similar conditions were observed in Kathali area of Lakshmipur Sadar, where floodwater deposited large amounts of soil into canals.

According to the Water Development Board, Lakshmipur has about 110 canals, most of which were already silted. Floods have worsened the situation.

Solution: Restoring all coastal canals is essential to prevent future flooding and ensure normal water flow. Rehabilitated canals could also transform irrigation systems.

Bumper aman harvest after the floods

Although the 2024 floods reduced aman yields that year, the 2025 aman season saw a bumper harvest. Farmer Abdur Rahman said yields reached 1–2 maunds (40 kg per maund) per decimal— the highest in a decade—largely due to flood impacts.

A post-flood survey by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), published on 6 October 2024, estimated total losses at Tk4,191 crore in Noakhali, Tk3,390 crore in Cumilla, Tk2,683 crore in Feni, and Tk1,403 crore in Lakshmipur.

However, no independent survey has yet assessed the full environmental impacts of the floods.