GovTwin / Institution
Jhalokati District
Local Gov
A small riverine district in central Barishal threaded by the Sugandha and other tidal rivers, historically a hub for boat-building and the floating wood and betel-leaf trade. Its economy is agrarian and trade-based, with household wealth near the divisional middle and a landscape that is low, green, and flood-prone.
Wealth rank 31/64
(1 = poorest district)
Warming +0.46°C
(1980s–2020s)
Air NO₂ #44/64
(1 = most polluted)
Night-lights +162%
(2014–23 activity)
Built-up 7 km²
Forest loss 10 ha
(2001–23)
Rainfall 2,057 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 A low-lying tidal-river district with high annual rainfall (2,057 mm) prone to monsoon flooding, tidal surge along the Sugandha, and waterlogging of its dense network of canals and orchards. So what: Flooding repeatedly disrupts the river-based trade and homestead farming that anchor the local economy, with recovery costs falling on a small district budget. Source: CHIRPS v2.0 precipitation (UCSB Climate Hazards Group) via Google Earth Engine
- water Settlement and commerce cluster along tidal rivers with relatively little permanent surface water area (29.1 km2), so communities depend on channels exposed to tidal flooding, siltation, and salinity creep from downstream. So what: When channels silt or salinity advances, both the boat-trade lifeline and freshwater access are squeezed together in an already small district. Source: JRC Global Surface Water (permanent water) via Google Earth Engine
- urbanization Built-up area has expanded 231% since 2000, the fastest of the four districts, yet from a small base (7.4 km2), with growth spreading over low, flood-prone ground. So what: Rapid unplanned expansion onto floodplains raises exposure and burdens weak drainage in a district with little high land to build on. Source: GHSL built-up surface (JRC) via Google Earth Engine
- poverty Household wealth sits below the national mean, with a Relative Wealth Index of -0.069 ranking 31st of 64 districts, reflecting an economy dependent on agriculture and small-scale river trade. So what: Limited household resources slow private flood adaptation and keep incomes tied to climate-sensitive farming and trade. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX), ~2.4 km grid
- economy Nighttime-light growth of 162% ranks only 13th of 64 districts, the slowest of the four, signaling more muted economic intensification in this small riverine district. So what: Slower relative growth points to limited new investment and job creation, raising the risk of out-migration of working-age residents. Source: VIIRS nighttime lights (annual radiance) via Google Earth Engine
Probable solutions
- Re-excavate silted tidal rivers and canals and upgrade sluice and drainage control to reduce monsoon flooding and waterlogging. Responsible: Bangladesh Water Development Board · policy proposal
- Adopt flood-risk-informed local land-use planning and improved municipal drainage to guide built-up growth away from the lowest ground. Responsible: Local Government Engineering Department · policy proposal
- Expand pond-sand filters and rainwater harvesting to secure safe drinking water against tidal salinity and contamination. Responsible: Department of Public Health Engineering · policy proposal
- Revitalize traditional boat-building and river-trade clusters with skills training and small-enterprise credit to retain working-age residents. Responsible: Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) · policy proposal