Welcome

BANGLADESH GEOGRAPHY

Brig Gen Md Omar Faruque, ndc, afwc, psc (LPR)

01769004147
faruque4147@[Link]

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 Introduction
• People's Republic of Bangladesh,
• Country in South Asia
• It is the 8th -most populous country in the world
• Population exceeding 170 million
• Area of 148,460 square kilometres (approx.)
• Land borders with India, Myanmar and Coastline along the Bay of Bengal
• Dhaka is the capital and the nation's political, financial, and cultural centre
• The official language is Bengali
• Islam is the official and largest religion
• Bengali Muslim is the largest ethnoreligious group
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 Aim

To discuss the geography of Bangladesh in brief

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 Scope

❖Important Fcats
❖Location,
❖Area,
❖Boundary,
❖Physiography,
❖River system,
❖Forest & Climate,
❖Demography

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 Learning objectives
➢ Understand Bangladesh's geography, including its landmass, location, and borders

➢ Understand the country's climate, including its seasons and susceptibility to cyclones
➢ Understand the relationship between the environment and development in
Bangladesh
➢ Understand the challenges and opportunities of living in Bangladesh

➢ Understand the physical and social environmental settings of Bangladesh

➢ Develop skills to explore the relationship between humans and the environment

➢ Develop a research mindset for critical analysis

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 Learning Outcomes

➢ Read, interpret, and generate maps and other geographic representations

➢ Extract, analyze, and present information from a spatial perspective

➢ Define concepts such as environment, ecosystem, environmental degradation, and
climate change
➢ Examine various factors of environmental degradation and climate change in
Bangladesh

➢ Identify the major environmental problems of Bangladesh

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 Important Facts About Bangladesh
Name: People's Republic of Bangladesh; গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাাংলাদেশ

Anthem: আমার স ানার বাাংলা; "My Golden Bengal"

Flag Emblem Government Seal

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 Important Facts About Bangladesh
▪ Capital and largest city: Dhaka
▪ Official language and national language: Bengali
▪ Recognized foreign language: English
▪ Ethnic groups (2022 census): 99% Bengali
1% others (Chakmas Garos Khasis Khumis
Manipuris Marmas Mizos Arakanese Mrus
Santals Tanchangyas Tripuris Bishnupriyas)

▪ Religion (2022 census): 91.04% Islam (official)

7.94% Hinduism
0.60% Buddhism
0.30% Christianity
0.12% other
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 Important Facts About Bangladesh

➢ Government: Unitary parliamentary republic under an interim government

• President : Mohammed Shahabuddin
• Chief Adviser: Muhammad Yunus
• Chief Justice: Syed Refaat Ahmed
➢ Legislature: Jatiya Sangsad (Currently dissolved)
➢ Establishment:
▪ East Bengal - 15 August 1947
▪ East Pakistan - 14 October 1955
▪ Proclamation of independence from Pakistan: 26 March 1971
▪ Victory: 16 December 1971
▪ Current constitution: 16 December 1972

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 Important Facts About Bangladesh
➢ Area
• Total : 148,460 km2 (92nd )
• Water (%) : 6.4
• Land area : 130,170 km2 ➢ GDP (nominal) 2025 estimate
• Water area : 18,290 km2 • Total : $481.86 billion (34th )
➢ Population • Per capita : $2,773 (139th )
• 2025 estimate : 174,655,977 (8th )
• 2022 census : 169,828,911 (8th )
• Density : 1,165/km2 (13th )

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 Location of Bangladesh
DMS: 23° 45′ 50″ N, 90° 23′ 20″ E

Decimal: 23.763889, 90.388889

Strategic Delta Region: Bangladesh's location at the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra,
and Meghna rivers has made it a strategic point for trade, cultural exchange, and
military conquests throughout history.
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 What is the Significance of Location of Bangladesh
Bangladesh's location is important for a number of reasons:
➢ Indo-Pacific region
▪ BD is a gateway to South and SE Asia, making it a central location in the Bay of Bengal.
▪ BD's location is a key part of the Indo-Pacific strategy of the USA, India, Japan, and Australia.

➢ Proximity to China
▪ BD's proximity to China is a factor in its strategic importance in the eastern subcontinent.

➢ Natural disasters
▪ BD's location makes it vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, storms,
riverbank erosion, and coastal erosion.
▪ These disasters are caused by factors such as BD's monsoon climate, mountainous
surroundings, and proximity to the Bay of Bengal.

➢ Power generation
▪ BD's location gives it the potential to generate power from the sun's radiation.
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 Area and Boundary of Bangladesh
➢ A broad deltaic plain subject to
frequent flooding, and a small hilly
820 Km region crossed by swiftly flowing rivers

600 Km ➢ Area: 148,460 Km 2

➢ Extends
▪ N-S : 820 Km
▪ E-W : 600 Km
4095 Km
➢ Borders
▪ India : 4095 Km
193 Km
▪ Myanmar : 193 Km
580 Km
▪ B of Bengal: 580 Km
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 Maritime Boundary of Bangladesh

➢ Internal waters are bodies of water within a

country's land borders, over which the country
has complete sovereignty.

➢ A territorial sea is a belt of water that extends

up to 12 nautical miles from a coastal state's
baselines. It includes the seabed, airspace, and
subsoil.

➢ The contiguous zone is a maritime zone that

extends 24 nautical miles from a coastal state's
baselines. It's located beyond and next to the
territorial sea.

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 Maritime Boundary of Bangladesh
➢ “EEZ” is an area of the ocean, generally extending
200 nautical miles beyond a nation's territorial sea,
within which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over
both living and non-living resources.

➢ A continental shelf is the submerged edge of a

continent that extends from the shoreline to the
shelf break. It's made up of the seabed and subsoil,
and is usually less than a few hundred feet deep.

➢ Territorial waters are informally an area of water

where a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including
internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous
zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potentially
the extended continental shelf.
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 Maritime Boundary of Bangladesh

➢ Territorial Sea : 12 nm
➢ Contiguous Zone: 12 nm
➢ EEZ : 200 nm
➢ Continental Shelf: EEZ and Beyond
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 Physiography of Bangladesh

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 Physiography of Bangladesh
Physiography synonymous with physical geography is the description including
form, substance, arrangement and changes of especially, natural features. ‘A
description of the surface features of the earth, as bodies of air, water and land',
with an emphasis on mode of origin; description and origin of landforms.

With about half of its surface below the 10m contour line, Bangladesh is located at
the lowermost reaches of three mighty river systems –
(1) The Ganges Padma river system,
(2) The Brahmaputra Jamuna river system
(3) The Surma Meghna river system.

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 Physiography of Bangladesh
Physiography of Bangladesh may be classified into three distinct regions, 24 Sub-regions
and 54 Units:
(a) floodplains,
(b) terraces, and
(c) hills each having distinguishing characteristics of its own.
Major sub-regions :
i) Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain; ii) Tista Floodplain; iii) Old Brahmaputra Floodplain;
iv) Jamuna (Young Brahmaputra) Floodplain; v) Haor Basin; vi) Surma-Kushiyara
Floodplain; vii) Meghna Floodplain - viii) Ganges River Floodplain; ix) Ganges Tidal
Floodplain; x) Sundarbans; xi) Lower Atrai Basin; xii) Arial Beel; xiii) Gopalganj-Khulna
Peat Basin; xiv) Chittagong Coastal Plain; xv) Northern and Eastern Piedmont Plain;
xvi) Pleistocene Uplands: xvii) Northern and Eastern Hills
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 Physiography of Bangladesh
Tertiary Hilly Region
Area: 12%
Average Ht: 610 m
Tajingdong (Bijoy) 1231 m
The Pleistocene Terrace Region
25000 Years Early
Area: 8%
Average Ht: 6-30 m

The Flood Plain Region

Area: 80%
124266 Km2

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 Physiography of Bangladesh

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 Tertiary Hilly Region
Tertiary hilly region : The hilly regions of north-eastern and south-eastern
part of Bangladesh have originated during the elevation of the
Himalayans in Tertiary period. They are similar to Lusai of Asam and
Arakan hills of Mayanmar. These hills are situated in greater Sylhet,
Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The hilly regions of the north-eastern and south-eastern part of Bangladesh have
originated during the elevation of the Himalayans in Tertiary period They are
similar to Lusai of Asam and Arakan hills of Mayanmar. These hills are situated in
greater Sylhet, Chittagong, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Hills of Sylhet: In Moulavibazar, Habiganj and north-eastern part of Sylhet there

are hills or hillock covered with grassland and trees. Usually, these are situated at
30 -60 meter (100 -200 feet) above sea level. In these hills tea cultivated. The
highest hill of Sylhet region is the Patharia Hill. Its height is 240 meters (800 feet).
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 The Pleistocene Terrace Region
The Pleistocene Terrace Age, commonly referred to as the Ice Age or the
Great Ice Age, was a geologic period that began about 2.6 million years
ago and ended about 11,000 years ago.
Key features
Glaciers - The Pleistocene was marked by repeated glaciations, with glaciers
advancing during colder periods and retreating during warmer periods
Megafauna - The Pleistocene was home to giant animals, including the diprotodon, a
wombat-like creature, and the megalania, a giant goanna
Human evolution - The Pleistocene saw the evolution and expansion of the species
Homo sapiens
Other life forms - The Pleistocene was home to large land mammals and birds,
including great teratorn birds with 25-foot wingspans
Subdivisions - The Pleistocene is divided into four stages or ages: the Gelasian,
Calabrian, Chibanian, and Upper Pleistocene.
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 Floodplain in Bangladesh
Floodplain in Bangladesh - A floodplain is a flat area of land next to a
river or stream that is prone to flooding. In Bangladesh, 80% of the
country is floodplain, making it highly susceptible to flooding.

Floodplain characteristics - Floodplains extend from the river's banks to the valley's
outer edges. The main channel of the river is called the floodway. Floodplains are
often flooded when the river overflows.

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 River System of Bangladesh

700 Rivers

24,140 Km

Ganges – Padma - Brahmaputra – Jamuna - Meghna

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 River System of Bangladesh

Brahmaputra
Jamuna River
System

Surma Meghna
River System

Ganges-Padma Chittagong
River System, Region River
System

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 River System of Bangladesh
Bangladesh's river system is made up of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers,
along with their tributaries and distributaries. The rivers drain the runoff from the
country's high rainfall areas.

River and Drainage System the rivers of Bangladesh are very extensive and distinguish
both the physiography of the country and the life of the people. Bangladesh is called
a land of rivers as it has about 700 rivers including tributaries.

The rivers are not, however, evenly distributed. For instance, they increase in numbers
and size from the northwest of the northern region to the southeast of the southern
region.

The total length of all rivers, streams, creeks and channels is about 24,140 km.

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 River System of Bangladesh
Thus this great river system is the country's principal resource as well as its greatest
hazard. The system can be divided into four major networks:
(1) Brahmaputra Jamuna river system,
(2) Ganges Padma river system,
(3) Surma Meghna river system, and
(4) Chittagong region river system

The first three river systems together cover a drainage basin of about 1.72 million sq
km, although only 7% of this vast basin lies within Bangladesh.

The combined annual discharge passing through the system into the Bay of Bengal
reaches up to 1,174 billion cu m.

Most of the rivers are characterised by fine sandy bottoms, flat slopes, substantial
meandering, banks susceptible to erosion, and channel shifting.
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 Brahmaputra Jamuna River System

Brahmaputra-Jamuna system is about 280 km long

and extends from northern Bangladesh to its
confluence with the Ganges. Before entering
Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra has a length of
2,850 km and a catchment area of about 583,000
sq km. The river originates in Tibet as the Yarlung
Zangbo Jiang and passes through Arunachal
Pradesh of India as Brahmaputra. Along this route,
the river receives water from five major
tributaries, of which Dihang and Luhit are
prominent. At the point where Brahmaputra
meets the tista in Bangladesh, it is called the
Jamuna.

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 Ganges Padma River System
The Ganges-Padma system is part of the greater
Ganges system. The Ganges has a total length of
about 2,600 km and a catchment area of
approximately 907,000 sq km. Within
Bangladesh, Ganges is divided into two sections -
first, the Ganges, 258 km long, starting from the
western border with India to its confluence with
Jamuna at Goalandaghat, some 72 km west of
Dhaka. The second is the Padma, 126 km long,
running from Goalandaghat confluence to
Chandpur where it joins the Meghna. The Padma-
Ganges is the central part of the deltaic river
system with hundreds of rivers. The total drainage
area of Ganges is about 990,400 sq km of which
only 38,880 sq km lie in Bangladesh.
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 Surma Meghna River System
The Surma-Meghna system the Meghna is the longest
(669 km) river in Bangladesh. It drains one of the
heaviest rainfall areas (eg, about 1,000 cm at
Cherapunji in Meghalaya) of the world. The river
originates in the hills of Shillong and Meghalaya of
India. The main source is the barak river, which has a
considerable catchment area in the ridge and valley
terrain of the Naga-Manipur hills bordering Myanmar.
The Barak-Meghna has a length of 950 km of which
340 km lie within Bangladesh. On reaching the border
with Bangladesh at Amalshid in Sylhet district, the
Barak bifurcates to form the steep and highly flashy
rivers surma and kushiyara. The Surma, flowing on the
north of the Sylhet basin, receives tributaries from the
Khasia and Jaintia hills of Shillong.
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 Chittagong Region River System
The rivers of Chittagong and Chittagong hill tracts
are not connected to the other river systems of the
country. The main river of this region is Karnaphuli.
It flows through the region of Chittagong and the
Chittagong Hills. It cuts across the hills and runs
rapidly downhill to the west and southwest and
finally to the Bay of Bengal. Chittagong port is
located on the bank of Karnaphuli. The river has
been dammed upstream at Kaptai to create a water
reservoir for hydroelectric power generation. Other
important rivers of the region are the Feni, Muhuri,
Sangu, Matamuhuri, Bakkhali, and Naaf.
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 Challenges of River System of Bangladesh
Bangladesh's rivers face many challenges, including pollution, encroachment, and
diminished flow. These issues threaten the environment, wildlife, and people's access to
water.
Pollution
•Chemical fertilizers and pesticides: Runoff from these chemicals destroys fish stocks
•Industrial waste: Industrial effluent and waste pollute rivers, especially around
Dhaka
•Organic waste: Various types of organic waste pollute rivers

Encroachment
•Population growth: A growing population puts pressure on rivers
•Lack of arable land: People encroach on rivers for subsistence
•Corruption: Administrative corruption contributes to encroachment
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 Challenges of River System of Bangladesh
Diminished flow
•Construction of Farakkha Barrage: This construction has reduced upstream flow
•Sedimentation: Sedimentation from upstream countries has silted up rivers
Other challenges
•Lack of water management: There is often no management plan or restrictions on
water extraction
•Climate change: Climate change is expected to affect water resources

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 Ways Forward

➢ Sustainable water management

▪ This requires a collaborative effort involving government, communities,
environmental experts, and international organizations

▪ Prudent diplomatic efforts with neighbours and allies

➢ Strong laws and policies

▪ These should focus on saving water and using it in a way that doesn't harm the
environment

▪ Awareness among the citizens about the use of water resources

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 Forest and Climate of Bangladesh

A forest is a large area of land that is covered by trees,

plants, and animals that grow naturally. Forests are
part of the landscape and are home to many different
types of life.

• Forests are the lungs of nature that provide oxygen

for us to breathe, survive and maintain a healthy
ecosystem
• Forests have been a source of livelihood for millions
of plants and animals on the planet
• Forests provide food, fuel, and raw materials for
human beings to use and prosper
• Forests help in preventing soil erosion and
maintains and enhances the fertility of the soil

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 Type of Forest
Forest type Based on their ecological characters; the forests of Bangladesh can be
divided into following Categories:
▪ Tropical wet evergreen,
▪ Tropical semi-evergreen,
▪ Tropical moist deciduous,
▪ Tidal, and
▪ Planted forests

Tropical wet evergreen forest Evergreen plants dominate with rich biodiversity; few
semi-evergreen and deciduous species also occur but do not change or alter the
evergreen nature of the forests. They occur in hilly areas of Chittagong, Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT), Cox's Bazar in the SE, and Maulvi Bazar in the NE.

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 Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest
The top canopy trees reach a height of 45-62 m. Due to humidity, epiphytic orchids,
ferns and fern allies, climbers, terrestrial ferns, mosses, aroids, and rattans are found as
undergrowth in moist shady places. The shrubs, herbs and grasses are fewer in number.

About 700 species of flowering plants grow in this type of forest. Trees like kaligarjan,
dhaligarjan, civit, dhup, kamdeb, raktan, narkeli, tali, chundul, dhaki jam are the
common evergreen species which constitute the uppermost canopy. Champa,
banshimul, chapalish, madar are some of the semi-deciduous and deciduous trees that
grow sporadically. Pitraj, chalmoogra, dephal, nageswar, kao, jam, goda, dumur,
koroi, dharmara, tejbhal, gamar, madanmasta, assar, moose, chatim, toon, bura,
ashok, barmala, dakrum occupy the second storey.

Sometimes Gnetum species and Podocarpus, two gymnosperms, are met with. Several
species of BAMBOO are also found in these forests.

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 Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest
Tropical semi-evergreen forest Generally evergreen in character but deciduous plants
also dominate. These forests range in the hilly regions of Sylhet through Chittagong,
the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cox’s Bazar, and also in some parts of Dinajpur district in
the NW. Most of them are subjected to JHUM (slash and burn) cultivation.

Over 800 species of flowering plants have been recorded in these forests. They have
more undergrowth than evergreen forests. Top canopy trees reach a height of 25-57
m. In the valleys and moist slopes chapalish, telsur, chundul and narkeli constitute
the top canopy; and dephal and kechuan constitute the lower storey.

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 Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest
On the hotter and dryer slopes and on ridges different species of garjan, banshimul,
shimul, shil koroi, chundul, bura gamari, bahera and moose form the upper storey;
gab, udal and shibhadi form the middle storey and adalia, barmala, ashoka, jalpai and
darrum constitute the lower storey.

The common deciduous species are garjan, simul, bansimul, batna, chapalish, koroi
and jalpai.

These forests collectively occupy about 6,40,000 ha of land and supply about 40% of
the commercial timber of the country. Recent introduction of rubber plantation along
with the previous exotic teak plantation is gradually changing the natural character of
the forests.

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 Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
Tropical moist deciduous forest Commonly known as sal forest,
sal being the dominant species. These forests are now distributed
in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Dinajpur and Comilla regions.

They constitute two distinct belts (covering about 107,000 ha of

land); the larger one falls between the Bhramaputra and the
Jamuna rivers with a length of about 80 km and a width of 7-20
km. This part is known as Madhupur Garh.

The other smaller belt is situated at Sherpur district and lies along the foothills of the
Garo Hills of India, having a length of about 60 km and width of 1.5-10 km.

There are some smaller remnant patches of forest areas in Rangpur, Dinajpur,
Thakurgaon, and Naogaon districts (covering about 14,000 ha) with some remainings
in Shalvan Vihara, Mainamati and Rajeshpur in Comilla (about 200 ha).
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 Tidal Forest
Tidal forest The most productive forest
type in Bangladesh, they are situated in
Khulna, Patuakhali, Noakhali and
Chittagong regions along the coastal
region, and constitute about 520,000
ha.

The grounds of these forests are

flooded every time at tide with
seawater. The plants have
pneumatophores, with viviparous
germination, and are evergreen in
nature.
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 Tidal Forest
Other than sundari, passur, gewa, keora, kankra, baen, dhundul, amoor,
and dakur grow gregariously.

Turbidity and salinity of water in the coastal zones regulate the

frequency and constituent feature of the species.

In addition to the Sundarbans, many small islands found in the mouth of

Gangetic delta are densely covered with tidal forests, although the
Sundari tree is absent here.

The pioneer plant in the forest quickly develops on creeks and

mudbanks of streams where deposition of silt is in progress. Near the
streams and canals, rhizophores (having stilt roots) are common.
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 Planted Forest
Bangladesh has about 237,000 hectares of planted forest. The plantation
forests are composed of long rotation species (131,000 ha), short to
medium rotation species (54,000 ha), mangroves (45,000 ha) and the
rubber plantations (8,000 ha).

Planted forests in Bangladesh include mangrove plantations, acacia plantations, and

other hardwood plantations.

Mangrove plantations-The BD Forest Department manages mangrove plantations.

Mangrove forests are a natural forest type in Bangladesh.

Acacia plantations-The Bangladesh Forest Department has conducted trials of acacia

species. Acacia is a short rotation crop.

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 Planted Forest

Other hardwood plantations -The BD Forest Department has planted hardwood

species such as Tectona grandis, Swietenia macrophylla, Lagerstroemia speciosa,
Cedrella toona, Artocarpus chaplasha, Xylia dolabriformis, and Syzygium grande.

In the 1950s and 1960s, sal plantations were established over large areas.

Benefits of forests - Forests provide many benefits, including:

▪ Timber, food, and fuel: Forests provide timber, food, fuel, and other bioproducts
▪ Carbon storage: Forests store carbon, which helps to mitigate climate change
▪ Water and air purification: Forests help to purify water and air
▪ Wildlife habitat: Forests provide habitats for wildlife
▪ Recreation: Forests provide opportunities for recreation
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 Forest Distribution/Cover of Bangladesh
The total forest area of BD is 2.6 million ha, which is about 17.4% of the
country's land area. A large part of the area, however, has no tree cover.

The highest forest cover is in the Hill and Sundarban zones. The
Sundarbans is a tidal mangrove forest that covers nearly 6,000 Km2 along
the Bay of Bengal.

Over the last three decades forest cover declined by 2.1 % annually.
Village groves or village forests play a very important role in the economy
of the country.

The forest sector accounts for about 3% of the country's GDP and 2% of
the labor force.
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 Forest Degradation of Bangladesh
Reasons of forest resources Degradation include:
▪ Uncontrolled deforestation, New settlements,
▪ Illegal wood cutting and felling, Leaf-litter collection,
▪ Dependency on forests for fuel wood,
▪ Grazing and browsing,
▪ Intentional forest burning,
▪ 'Jhum' or shifting cultivation,
▪ Conversion of forest lands into agricultural land,
▪ Overexploitation of particular important species like medicinal, fodder, dye, etc,
▪ Indiscriminate use of forest wood in brick fields and in other small industries,
▪ Total clearing of undergrowth and
▪ Excess consumption of forest materials for domestic purposes.

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 Forest Degradation of Bangladesh
In addition,
▪ Heavy rainfall,
▪ Occasional landslide,
▪ Erosion,
▪ Flood,
▪ Cyclone and tornado,
▪ Increase of salinity, and
▪ Some diseases (eg top dying disease in the Sundarbans)

Moreover, lack of proper management and awareness, inadequate research and

developmental programme on habitat and resource and regeneration, restoration
and conservation are also some additional reasons for the degradation of forest
resources in Bangladesh. Sometimes the rate and pattern of forest degradation
vary with the type of forests and their geographical location.

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 Conservation Effort By Government
The Bangladesh government's recent forest policies include the National Forestry Policy,
the Forest Bill of 2023, and the Bangladesh National REDD+ Strategy. These policies
aim to reduce deforestation, protect biodiversity, and mitigate climate change.

National Forestry Policy Aims to increase the country's forest cover to 20% by 2035,
Encourages afforestation on private land, Promotes community livelihoods, Conserves
biodiversity and wildlife, and Strengthens the rural economy.

Forest Bill of 2023, Replaces the Forest Act of 1927

Authorizes the Forest Department to conserve forests and protect biodiversity
Allows the Forest Department to auction timber
Bangladesh National REDD+ Strategy (BNRS)
Reduces emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
Increases the country's forest carbon stock

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 Climate of Bangladesh

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 Climate of Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate with high temperatures, humidity,
and rainfall. The country is known as the "Land of six seasons".

Temperature
Average annual temperature is around 26°C
Warmest months are May to August
Coolest months are January to February
Highest temperatures are around Dhaka
Colder temperatures are in the mountainous north

Rainfall
Annual rainfall is around 2,200 mm
Most regions receive at least 1,500 mm
Northeastern border regions receive up to 5,000 mm
Monsoon season (June to October) supplies most of the country's rainfall
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 Climate of Bangladesh
Seasons
Winter: December to February, mild and cool Rainy
Summer: March to May, hot and sunny Late Autumn
Monsoon: June to September, somewhat cooler and very wet Spring
Autumn: October to November, pleasant, shorter, and cooler

Natural disasters
Tropical cyclones, floods, tornadoes, and tidal bores occur almost every year
Cyclones of 1970 and 1991 were particularly devastating

Climate change - Climate change is expected to bring higher temperatures and more
extreme weather events

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 Impacts of Climate Change
Bangladesh has been on the front line of climate change for decades, repeatedly
confronting heatwaves, tropical cyclones, floods and droughts. Between 2000 and
2019, Bangladesh experienced 185 extreme weather events, making it the seventh
most vulnerable country to climate change. In June 2023, temperatures surpassed
40°C during a prolonged heatwave. Tropical cyclones have ripped through coastal
communities, costing on average 0.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) per year.

Heatwave
▪ Temp reached up to 42°C, which is 6°C higher than the average annual temp
▪ The heatwave led to school closures, affecting the education of an estimated 33
million children
▪ This was the 2nd consecutive year that BD had to close schools due to extreme heat
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 Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change
▪ Bangladesh is one of the world's most climate-sensitive nations
▪ Bangladesh is expected to experience higher minimum and maximum
temperatures by mid-century
▪ The country is also at risk of more intense tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts
▪ Sea level is rising faster than the global average

Natural disaster risk

▪ BD is rated as "very high risk" on the 2024 global natural disaster risk index
▪ Bangladesh is the world’s 9th most natural disaster risk country
▪ Climate change has destroyed people's health, lives, and livelihoods

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 Impacts of Climate Change

2/17/2025 Bangladesh Geography 60

 Impacts of Climate Change

Source: Climate change

impacts in Bangladesh, WHAT
CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS
FOR A COUNTRY AND ITS
PEOPLE, A scientific synthesis
led by the International Centre
for Climate Change and
Development (ICCCAD), Page
5, 2024

2/17/2025 Bangladesh Geography 61

 Key Points About Climate Challenges in BD
• Sea Level Rise: Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, which could
inundate large swathes of coastal land, displacing millions and causing significant
loss of agricultural land.
• Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of cyclones, floods,
and droughts will disrupt livelihoods, damage infrastructure, and exacerbate food
insecurity.
• Salinity Intrusion: Rising sea levels will push saltwater further inland,
contaminating freshwater sources and affecting agricultural productivity in coastal
areas.
• Agricultural Impacts: Changes in rainfall patterns and extreme weather events
will lead to crop failures and reduced agricultural yields, impacting food security.

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 Key Points About Climate Change Challenges in BD
•Waterborne Diseases: Flooding can contaminate water sources, leading to
outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.

•Migration and Displacement: Climate change induced disasters are likely to lead to
large-scale internal migration, putting further strain on existing infrastructure and
resources.

•Economic Impacts: The combined effects of climate change on agriculture,

infrastructure, and human health could significantly hinder Bangladesh's economic
development.

•Social Impacts: Climate change is likely to exacerbate existing social inequalities and
vulnerabilities, particularly impacting marginalized communities.
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 Mitigation Effort By Government

➢ Government adaptation policy and local initiatives have saved many lives and, so
far, averted the worst impacts of climate change.

➢ In the last few decades, the number of people who have died during cyclones has
fallen from six digits to double digits, largely due to the success of the Cyclone
Preparedness Programme.

➢ Climate impacts in Bangladesh are increasing at an alarming rate, and current

safeguards soon won’t be enough to protect people.

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 Mitigation Effort By Government

➢ Even with accelerated climate action, continued warming and more extreme
weather will stress adaptation efforts in Bangladesh, making it harder to protect lives
and livelihoods.

➢ Bangladesh needs a bolder adaptation response, alongside a functional loss and

damage mechanism and a transition away from fossil fuels.

➢ Bangladesh’s ability to continue responding to climate change requires government

investment, locally led adaptation, equitable loss and damage financing, and a large-
scale shift to secure, low-carbon energy.

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 Potential Adaptation Strategies
Coastal Protection: Building embankments, planting mangroves, and other coastal
defense measures to mitigate sea level rise impacts.

Floodplain Management: Improving drainage systems and flood control infrastructure.

Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Developing drought-resistant crops, promoting water

conservation techniques, and diversifying agricultural practices.

Early Warning Systems: Enhancing weather forecasting and disaster preparedness

systems to minimize loss of life.

Community-Based Adaptation: Empowering local communities to develop and

implement adaptation strategies based on their needs.

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 Demography of Bangladesh

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 Demography of Bangladesh
Demography is the scientific study of human populations, focusing on their size,
composition, and how they change over time through factors like births, deaths,
and migration; essentially, it's the analysis of population dynamics.

Key points about demography:

Focus areas:
Examines aspects like age structure, gender distribution, fertility rates, mortality
rates, and migration patterns.

Data collection:
Uses methods like censuses, surveys, and vital statistics to gather population data.

Application:
Provides insights into social, economic, and environmental issues related to
population changes.
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 Demography of Bangladesh

➢ Population of Bangladesh (2024) ➢ Ethnic groups: 99% Bengali

➢ Population : 173,562,364 1% others (Chakmas Garos Khasis Khumis
➢ Yearly Change : + 1.22% Manipuris Marmas Mizos Arakanese Mrus
➢ Global Share : 2.13% Santals Tanchangyas Tripuris Bishnupriyas)
➢ Global Rank :8
➢ Religion: 91.04% Islam
➢ Median Age : 25.7 years (2024).
7.94% Hinduism
➢ 2022 census : 169,828,911 (8th)
0.60% Buddhism
➢ Density : 1,165/km2 (13th)
0.30% Christianity
0.12% other

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 Demography of Bangladesh
Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Bangladesh
Infant Mortality : 16.9 (infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5 : 21.0 (per 1,000 live births)

Fertility in Bangladesh
Fertiliy Rate (TFR) : 2.1 (Live Births per Woman, 2024)

Life Expectancy in Bangladesh (97th )

Both Sexes : 74.9 years (life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females : 76.7 years (life expectancy at birth, females)
Males : 73.3 years (life expectancy at birth, males)

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 Demography of Bangladesh
Serial Event %
1. Literacy Rate 74.80
2. Field of Education
General 89.26
Technical/Vocational 0.81
Religious 7.19
Others 2.74
3. Working Sectors
Agriculture 37.91
Industry 18.41
Service 43.68
4. Population Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET) 34.26
Male 13.18
Female 52.76
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 Population Density By Division

Dhaka : 2156/km2
Mymensingh : 1146/km2
Rajshahi : 1121/km2
Rangpur : 1088/km2
Chattagram : 979 /km2
Sylhet : 873 /km2
Khulna : 781 /km2
Barishal : 688 /km2
Average Density : 1,165/km2

2/17/2025 Bangladesh Geography 72

 Rural – Urban Population

Division Rural % Urban%

Dhaka 53.05 46.95
Mymensingh 77.65 23.35
Rajshahi 76.21 23.79
Rangpur 78.05 21.95
Chattagram 66.32 33.68
Sylhet 81.28 18.72
Khulna 75.23 24.77
Barishal 74.86 25.14
Average Density 68.34 31.66
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 Population By Age Group

15 – 54 Age Group has the 58.6% of Population

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 Population By Age Group – Male & Female

15 – 54 Age Group has the 50.67% Male and 46.2% Female of Population
2/17/2025 Bangladesh Geography 75
 Demographics Potential and Challenges of BD

In Bangladesh, the "demographic dividend" presents a potential opportunity for rapid

economic growth due to a large working-age population, but significant challenges
remain like inadequate education and skills development, gender inequality, and
limited job creation, which could hinder the full realization of this benefit if not
addressed effectively; the key to reaping the dividend lies in investing heavily in
human capital development, particularly for women, to ensure they can fully
participate in the workforce and contribute to economic growth.

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 Key Challenges
• Low quality education and skills mismatch: A large portion of the young population
lacks the necessary skills to compete in the job market, leading to underemployment
and unemployment issues.

• Gender inequality: Women face significant barriers to accessing education and

employment opportunities, hindering their full participation in the workforce.

• Limited access to healthcare: Inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited access

to quality healthcare can affect the overall health and productivity of the workforce.

• Poor infrastructure: Lack of proper transportation, energy, and other infrastructure

can limit economic activity and job creation.

• Informal economy dominance: A large portion of the workforce is employed in the

informal sector, which often lacks social security and benefits.

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 Prospects for Utilizing the Demographic Dividend
• Investing in education and skills training: Prioritizing quality education, particularly
for girls, and aligning training programs with market demands to equip the young
generation with relevant skills.
• Promoting gender equality: Implementing policies to increase women's labor force
participation, including addressing social norms and providing childcare support.
• Creating conducive business environment: Facilitating entrepreneurship and private
sector investment to generate more job opportunities.
• Improving healthcare access: Enhancing healthcare infrastructure and promoting
preventive health practices to ensure a healthy and productive workforce.
• Urban planning and development: Strategically managing urbanization to provide
adequate housing, transportation, and social services for the growing urban
population.

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 Summary
▪ Location, Boundary, Physiography, River System, Forest,
Climate and Demography of Bangladesh

▪ The importance, Challenges, Opportunity and Mitigation

iro above have been highlighted

2/17/2025 Bangladesh Geography 79

 References

▪ Bangladesh Studies: Md Shamsul K abir Khan and Daulatunnahar Khanam

▪ The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

▪ Discover y of Bangladesh: Akbar Ali Khan

▪ Histor y of Bangladesh, Vol 1 -3: Sirajul Islam

▪ Histor y of Modern Bengal, Vol 1: R C Majumdar

▪ Dynastic Histor y of Bengal: Dr. Abdul Mumin Chowdhur y

▪ A Histor y of Bangladesh: William Van Schendel

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 References

▪ Geography of Bangladesh: Harun Er Rashid

▪ Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Vol 1 -10: Sirajul Islam

▪ Histor y of Bengal (Mughal Period 1526 -1765): R A Chandra

▪ Land of Two Rivers: Nitesh Sengupta

▪ Bengali Nationalism and Emergence of BD: A F Salahuddin Ahmed

▪ Language Movement and the Making of Bangladesh: Safar Ali Akanda

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 Discussion

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