Mongla, Bangladesh: A Model of Successful Adaptability

Mongla, a coastal port town in Bangladesh, faces severe climate risks including sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, and frequent cyclones. While the community suffers from declining fish stocks and reproductive health issues due to water scarcity, the local government has implemented infrastructure projects such as a 11km marine drive road and flood-control gates. Under Mayor Sheikh Abdur Rahman, the town has successfully reduced casualties during extreme weather events, such as Cyclone Sitrang, through the strategic use of cyclone centers and emergency supplies. Future resilience efforts focus on expanding water treatment facilities and securing international funding for human-centric adaptation.

• Mongla is highly vulnerable to climate change, with sea levels in the Bay of Bengal rising faster than the global average, leading to frequent floods, cyclones, and storm surges.
• Climate change has caused significant economic loss for the fishing community due to changes in water temperature and salinity, which have depleted fish stocks in the Sundarbans.
• Salinity intrusion has created a freshwater crisis, leading to diarrhea, skin diseases, and reproductive health issues for women, while also increasing the risk of sexual harassment for women collecting water.
• The local government has improved flood resistance through infrastructure projects, including an 11 kilometer marine drive road, two flood-control gates, a water reservoir, and a water treatment facility.
• Effective emergency management and the use of 19 cyclone centers (including schools and madrasas) resulted in zero casualties during the recent Cyclone Sitrang.

APA

Tabassum, E. (2023). Mongla, Bangladesh: A Model of Successful Adaptability. Global Resilience Partnership. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/mongla-bangladesh-a-model-of-successful-adaptability/

Chicago

Tabassum, Elmee. Mongla, Bangladesh: A Model of Successful Adaptability. Global Resilience Partnership, 2023. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/mongla-bangladesh-a-model-of-successful-adaptability/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tabassum |first1=Elmee |title=Mongla, Bangladesh: A Model of Successful Adaptability |publisher=Global Resilience Partnership |date=13 June 2023 |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/mongla-bangladesh-a-model-of-successful-adaptability/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tabassum2023mongla, author = {Tabassum, Elmee}, title = {{Mongla, Bangladesh: A Model of Successful Adaptability}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/mongla-bangladesh-a-model-of-successful-adaptability/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }