Waters of Uncertainty: Displacement, Local Adaptation, and the Politics of Coastal Areas in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh’s coastal area stands at the timeline of global climate context where the intersection of water insecurity, forced displacement and social belonging impacts every day. Besides the common scenario like rising sea levels, salinity intrusion, poverty and recurrent cyclones have controlled not only land management and livelihood but also people’s sense of place, land identity, and community bonding. This paper evolves how local communities negotiate belonging through continuous climate-induced displacement in Bangladesh. The core study is shaped by three central research questions: (i) How do displaced coastal people interpret their sense of belonging? (ii) What role does local ecological system and cultural knowledge play in providing social resilience and adaptation in coastal areas? (iii) How local politics, State responses, and stakeholders intersect in shaping the everyday realities of displaced people? Methodologically and theoretically this study follows a qualitative ethnographic approach including in-depth interviews, oral histories, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) with affected coastal communities in Khulna, Patuakhali and Barguna districts. In addition the study integrates policy analysis to connect practical experiences with institutional reforms. The study shows that climate displacement should not be viewed merely as a humanitarian or environmental crisis right now but as a profound challenge to establish cultural and political scenarios at the root level. Besides, global debate on water security and resilience, this paper calls for an inclusive water management that values community bonding among the people. Further, this study shapes the urgency of integrating local adaptation knowledge into national and global climate governance for achieving sustainable development. Finally, the paper has proven a critical reflection on how the politics of coastal areas and displacement propose human-water relations in precarious climate future of Bangladesh.

Keywords

• Climate Displacement
• Local Knowledge
• Water Insecurity
• Belonging Politics
• Coastal Bangladesh

How to cite

Faijul Islam, A. S. M. Tariq Iqbal (2026). Waters of Uncertainty: Displacement, Local Adaptation, and the Politics of Coastal Areas in Bangladesh. Sonargaon University Journal, 6(I), 63–72.

@article{islam20266,
  title   = {Waters of Uncertainty: Displacement, Local Adaptation, and the Politics of Coastal Areas in Bangladesh},
  author  = {Faijul Islam and A. S. M. Tariq Iqbal},
  journal = {Sonargaon University Journal},
  volume  = {6},
  number  = {I},
  pages   = {63--72},
  year    = {2026},
  issn    = {2518-3125},
  url     = {https://su.edu.bd/journal/volume-6-issue-1/waters-of-uncertainty-displacement-local-adaptation-and-the-politics-of-coastal}
}