GovTwin / Institution
Feni District
Local Gov
A small southeastern district between the hills and the coast, a trade and transit node on the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor with a short coastal frontage on the Feni River estuary. It is comparatively better-off than its neighbors but stands out for the sharpest warming and slow economic-activity growth.
Wealth rank 59/64
(1 = poorest district)
Warming +0.79°C
(1980s–2020s)
Air NO₂ #34/64
(1 = most polluted)
Night-lights +74%
(2014–23 activity)
Built-up 26 km²
Forest loss 74 ha
(2001–23)
Rainfall 2,851 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 The strongest near-surface warming among the assigned districts (air warming of about 0.79 C), combined with high annual rainfall (~2,851 mm) on terrain that funnels hill runoff toward the coast. So what: Intensifying heat and heavy rain raise the risk of flash floods and heat stress, threatening crops, water supply, and worker health. Source: ERA5-Land reanalysis (Copernicus/ECMWF) via Google Earth Engine, district mean
- economy Sluggish economic-activity growth: nightlights rose only about 74%, ranking 47th of 64 districts (1 = fastest), the slowest among the assigned districts. So what: Despite its corridor location, Feni is not converting connectivity into rapid local growth, risking out-migration of working-age residents. Source: VIIRS nighttime lights (annual radiance) via Google Earth Engine
- water Minimal permanent surface water (about 1.1 km2) and limited coastal mangrove (~1.2 km2 in 2000), leaving thin natural water buffers and weak coastal protection. So what: Scarce surface storage heightens dry-season water stress while the thin mangrove fringe offers little defense against tidal surge on the Feni estuary. Source: JRC Global Surface Water (permanent water) via Google Earth Engine
- poverty Even as a relatively wealthier southeastern district (mean RWI 0.188), it still ranks 59th of 64 districts on the Relative Wealth Index, indicating its standing reflects national poverty rather than genuine prosperity. So what: Local affluence is shallow, so modest shocks can still push households into deprivation without broader economic diversification. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX), ~2.4 km grid
Probable solutions
- Flash-flood early warning, cross-border hill-runoff drainage management, and heat-action planning for outdoor workers and farmers. Responsible: Bangladesh Water Development Board / Department of Disaster Management · policy proposal
- Coastal mangrove afforestation and surface-water retention (ponds, regulators) on the Feni estuary to buffer surge and dry-season stress. Responsible: Bangladesh Forest Department / Bangladesh Water Development Board · policy proposal
- Leverage the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor for agro-processing and SME investment to accelerate local economic activity and diversify incomes. Responsible: Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation / Local Government Division · policy proposal