New publication: scoping study on salinity in Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces significant challenges due to natural hazards such as salinity intrusion, particularly in its coastal regions. Among the major environmental challenges affecting Bangladesh, salinity intrusion has emerged as a significant threat to water resources, agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and rural livelihoods.

Against this background, in late 2025 the Saline Water & Food Systems Partnership selected Bangladesh as one of its four priority countries. CEGIS (the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services) conducted a scoping study to serve as a basis for a multi-annual action plan and roadmap to address salinization challenges.

The coastal zone of Bangladesh including districts such as Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cox's Bazar, is one of the most complex delta regions in the world where annual floods, cyclones, tidal surges, reduced river navigability and sea level rise have created various types of environmental risks. A significant proportion of the coastal region is affected by varying degrees of salinity, which constrains crop production, freshwater supply, and food security. Inland salinization in soil and water resources is also taking place. The process is driven by a combination of natural processes such as sea level rise, and human activities including land-use changes for shrimp aquaculture expansion.

A draft of the study was presented by CEGIS on two occasions to collect input and feedback. First in Bangladesh, in the context of a high-level expert dialogue convened on 7 January 2025 organized by the Netherlands Alumni Association of Bangladesh (NAAB) with EnvSoL, CEGIS, the James P Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University, and WUR. And secondly during an online validation workshop on 27 January, with participants from the Netherlands and Bangladesh, including representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.

The findings provide the foundation for a multi-annual salinity implementation programme. As part of the next phase of the Saline Water & Food Systems Partnership, this programme will be developed in close collaboration with stakeholders in Bangladesh and the Netherlands.