GovTwin / Institution
Barishal District
Local Gov
A central deltaic district on the Kirtankhola and lower Meghna estuary, with rice, betel leaf and inland fisheries as economic mainstays and Barishal city as the divisional hub. It has extensive surface water, the wettest climate among low-lying peers, and rapid urban and nighttime-economy growth, but the highest regional warming signal and notable forest loss.
Wealth rank 34/64
(1 = poorest district)
Warming +0.5°C
(1980s–2020s)
Air NO₂ #28/64
(1 = most polluted)
Night-lights +176%
(2014–23 activity)
Built-up 29 km²
Forest loss 198 ha
(2001–23)
Rainfall 2,142 mm/yr
Indicators: Meta RWI (HDX); ERA5-Land; MODIS; Sentinel-5P; VIIRS night-lights; GHSL; Hansen v1.11; CHIRPS v2.0. Exposure: GloFAS v2.1, FABDEM, MODIS LST, ACAG PM2.5, WorldPop 2020.
Problems and issues
- climate disaster Heavy annual rainfall of 2142 mm combined with 389.4 km2 of permanent surface water across the tidal estuary leaves the district highly exposed to monsoon flooding, tidal surge and waterlogging. So what: Recurrent flooding and surge damage crops, settlements and the divisional capital's infrastructure. Source: CHIRPS v2.0 precipitation (UCSB Climate Hazards Group) via Google Earth Engine
- urbanization Built-up surface reached 29.4 km2 with 190% growth since 2000, expanding Barishal city and satellite towns into flood-prone deltaic land. So what: Rapid built expansion onto floodplain compounds drainage failure and surge risk in the divisional capital. Source: GHSL built-up surface (JRC) via Google Earth Engine
- environment Forest loss of 198.1 ha over 2001-23 is the highest among the assigned districts, eroding the homestead and roadside tree cover (230.8 km2 in 2021) that buffers communities against storms. So what: Loss of protective tree cover reduces natural defence against cyclonic winds and surge. Source: Hansen Global Forest Change v1.11 (UMD) via Google Earth Engine
- economy Nighttime lights grew 176% (ranked 10th of 64), yet the district's mean Relative Wealth Index of -0.061 (34th poorest of 64) remains below the national average, showing growth has not yet translated into broad-based wealth. So what: A booming activity signal alongside below-average wealth flags uneven, town-centric development. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX), ~2.4 km grid
- air quality Tropospheric NO2 of 38.2 umol/m2 (ranked 28th of 64) reflects rising vehicular and urban emissions as the divisional capital grows, even as aerosol levels stay relatively low (AOD 0.492, 50th of 64). So what: Growing NO2 from the urban core threatens to erode the district's comparatively clean air. Source: Sentinel-5P tropospheric NO2 via Google Earth Engine
Probable solutions
- Upgrade and maintain coastal and estuarine embankments and tidal sluices, with early-warning and cyclone-shelter coverage across the lower-Meghna fringe. Responsible: Bangladesh Water Development Board · Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP)
- Enforce a flood-resilient Barishal city development plan that preserves drainage canals and restricts construction on low-lying floodplain. Responsible: Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) · policy proposal
- Expand homestead and embankment afforestation with storm-buffering species to restore lost tree cover. Responsible: Bangladesh Forest Department · policy proposal
- Introduce urban transport emission controls and cleaner public transit in Barishal city to contain rising NO2. Responsible: Department of Environment · policy proposal