High tides flood coastal areas of Bangladesh; the effects of sea level rise are becoming visible!

'Tidal water is now our biggest enemy. 

Crop fields, houses, and roads in our area are drowning in tidal water. 

Twice a day, houses are submerged in tidal water. 

People cannot live in this area unless tidal water can be stopped.

 We cannot live here if the tidal pressure increases.'

These words were said by Maksud Alam, 45, a resident of the Battirkhal area of Kamalnagar Upazila in the coastal district of Lakshmipur, Bangladesh. 

His house was submerged in tidal water.

This area has been submerged in tidal water for the past two days. 

Kamalnagar Upazila has been facing river erosion for more than twenty years.

Every year many people of this Upazila are displaced. 

Many are forced to leave the area and move elsewhere. 

As there is no barrier on the banks of the Meghna river, tidal water is pushing into this area. 

The international tide monitoring organization Tide Forecast says that there will be tidal water in the coastal areas of Bangladesh for another two days.

Many other affected residents, like Maqsood Alam, a resident of the Battirkhal area, spoke to them about their problems. 

They said, 'We are losing everything due to natural calamities again and again. 

Every year we have to face some natural disaster. Erosion of the river continues. 

How long will we continue to borrow?'

Kalkin is a village very close to the Battirkhaal area. 

Fahima Begum, a resident of this village, left her house during the high tide and took shelter in a high house in the area. 

The houses of Fahima Begum and many others in that area were submerged in tidal water. 

Due to the tidal water crisis, their livelihood increased. 

They do their daily work keeping in tune with the timing of the tides. 

Fahima said, 'We have no chance to go anywhere else. That is why I am forced to live here. 

The river came very close to our house. I will not be able to live here for a long time.'

The tide is now not for Kamalnagar; It is now a significant crisis for the entire coast of Bangladesh.

The tide rises several times during the Monsoon. 

People's lives are disrupted, and people face huge losses.

 In July this year, the dam broke in Durgabati village of Burigoalini union in Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira district due to high tidal pressure during the Monsoon. 

As a result, the water of the Kholpetua river spread to different parts of the Union. Most areas of the Union are now inundated with tidal water twice a day. 

Within a week, the damaged embankment was repaired; But many were at a loss. But he got no help to recover from this loss.

Geeta Rani Mandal of Durgabati village of Shyamnagar Upazila said, 'My house, including crab farm, has been submerged in tidal water. 

I have lost about 40 thousand rupees on the crab farm. We are small farmers.

 We cannot make up for the shortfall of so much damage again and again. 

Natural calamities are forcing us to take loans. We bear the burden of debt year after year.'

Many other shrimp and crab farmers in the area, like Swapan Chandra Howladar and Geeta Rani Mondol, suffered heavy losses in the Monsoon this year.

The people of the southwest coast of Bangladesh suffered huge losses in Cyclone Sidr in 2007, Cyclone Aila in 2009, Cyclone Fani in 2019, Cyclone Bulbul in the same year, Cyclone Amphan in 2020, and Cyclone Yas in 2021. 

Because of this, the risk has increased in that area.

Due to the effect of the full moon in the Monsoon, the tidal water rose in the entire coastal region of Bangladesh. 

All coastal rivers are flowing above the danger level. 

Many villages near the sea line of the coast were submerged in tidal water. 

As a result, the lives of the residents of the flooded areas have been disrupted.

 Many families have left their homes and taken shelter on the streets.

Tidal water has entered the three divisional cities of Chittagong, Khulna, and Barisal in the coastal region of Bangladesh.

 The tidal water has also joined some coastal district towns. Many low-lying villages and at least a hundred islands have been submerged.

Chaktai-Khatunganj, Achadganj, Agrabad CDA residential area, Nimtali, Fakir Hat, Gosaildanga, and Shanti Bagh areas of Chittagong city were flooded by tidal water.

 Knee-deep water is seen somewhere, and waist-deep water is seen somewhere. 

Home furniture and shop goods have been destroyed due to water entering houses and shops. 

The area is flooded with water and garbage from the drains. People have suffered.

Jamal Hossain, organizing secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, said, 'Earlier the tidal water used to rise. 

But the water that has risen this time is unusual. Residents of Chittagong are suffering due to tidal water.'

This time in Monsoon, the water of the Kirtankhola river in Barisal has flooded various areas, including the lower part of Barisal city. 

Some critical roads in the city also get waterlogged. 

On Friday, essential roads in the town, like Bir Shrestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Road and Journalist Mainul Hasan Road, went underwater. 

River water has also entered the Charbaria and Charkaua areas of Sadar Upazila, including Palashpur, Bhatikhana, and Hatkhola of the city. 

Many people cannot leave their homes during high tide.

Meghna river water in Bhola island district has flowed very high this Monsoon. 

Twenty chars, including Charnizam, Kalatali's char, Charyatin, Chargyan, Charfashion's Kukrimukri, Dhalchar, Charpatila, Magherchar, Charshahjalal, and Kachuakhali have been flooded.

At least 25 thousand people have been flooded.

During the high tide of this Monsoon, eight villages were flooded due to the collapse of the 100-meter embankment in the Tentulbari area of Payra river at Taltali in the Barguna district. 

Fifty fish farms were washed away. Rural roads were submerged in tidal water. 

At least ten villages were inundated due to rising water in the Bishkhali and Baleshwar rivers in Patharghata Upazila of Barguna district.

Coastline residents are worried.

Their char is an eroded island in Ramgati Upazila of Lakshmipur district on the coast of Bangladesh. 

The island has been submerged at high tide for the past three years.

Alauddin Master lived here for ten years.

 High tide has caused an extreme crisis in his life and livelihood. 

Our house is built on the highest ground on this island. 

The floor of the house is raised ten feet. But even then, the tide has entered my house.' said Alauddin.

Korban Ali, a senior resident of Martin village in Kamalnagar Upazila of Lakshmipur district, said, "We are people of the river bank. 

We live on the river. 

We have been fishing the river for over 45 years but have never seen such a high tide. 

When the water rises, it creates many problems in our life. I don't know if we will be able to live on the banks of the river in the future.

Residents said that the excess tide water enters the locality very due to the lack of barriers in the Meghna River. 

This caused extensive damage to coastal residents along with river erosion. 

Now, tidewater rose in several villages of Kalkini, Saheberhat, Patir Hat, Char Falkon, Char Martin, Char Laurench Union of Kamalnagar Upazila and Alexander, Barakheri, Chargazi, Char Abdullah Union of Ramgati Upazila.

Balaram Sura village on the banks of the Meghna in island district Bhola has been submerged in tidal water.

 Siraj Uddin, an elderly person of this village, said,' I raised the ground of the house by ten feet so that the tidewater cannot enter the house. 

Still, our house has been submerged in water for the last two years. We can no longer live here.'