Sachchida Nanda Dey Saday, Ashashuni (Satkhira) 

The southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh—particularly Ashashuni upazila in Satkhira stands at the frontline of disaster risk today. 

Coastal communities here are being battered time and again by cyclones, tidal surges, and river erosion. The combined impact of climate change, weak infrastructure, and mismanagement has pushed the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands into uncertainty.

The protective embankments of the upazila have long collapsed or become severely weakened. In many areas, the width of the dikes has shrunk to just a few feet. Unable to withstand the pressure of tidal waves, the embankments frequently collapse, submerging villages under saline water. Farmlands are being rendered uncultivable, homes and educational institutions are being damaged, and shrimp farms worth millions are washed away.

Cyclone Aila in 2009, Cyclone Roanu in 2016, and Cyclone Amphan in 2020 drastically altered Ashashuni’s landscape. During Aila, embankments broke and vast coastal areas remained under water for months. The same scenario repeated during Amphan. Even today, many families are compelled to live dangerously close to broken embankments—caught in what seems like an endless cycle of disasters.

The collapse of embankments not only destroys homesteads but also devastates livelihoods. Saline intrusion reduces food production, livestock perish, and in the absence of alternative income sources, many families are forced to migrate. Women and children face acute health risks due to a lack of safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and proper nutrition. Public health in coastal areas has reached a fragile state.

Every year the government allocates funds for embankment repairs, but questions remain regarding the quality and implementation of such projects. Often, repairs are done temporarily, and the dikes collapse again in the next season. Disaster management experts warn that without sustainable solutions, pouring millions of taka annually will bring little benefit.

Environmentalists stress the urgent need for durable embankments in Ashashuni, along with improved drainage systems, river dredging, and afforestation projects. At the same time, local communities must be trained to tackle disasters effectively. Beyond government initiatives, international cooperation and research are essential to address the damages caused by climate change.

Without sustainable embankments, planned infrastructure, and collective awareness, this region cannot be saved. Unless urgent measures are taken now, the situation will only worsen in the years ahead.