Living in the same location for over a decade, I have experienced the devastation caused by the collapse of the embankment due to Cyclone Amphan. Despite rebuilding our house, the constant cyclone warnings still instill fear in our community.
In late May 2025, as the Bangladesh Meteorology Department alerted about a depression in the Bay of Bengal potentially escalating into a cyclone, my conversation with Bariul Islam shed light on the precarious situation faced by residents living near the embankment in the lower delta of the Bangladesh Sundarbans.
The existence of embankments in this region brings about a mix of hope and anxiety for individuals like Bariul. I delve into how embankments serve as complex infrastructures, illustrating that infrastructure is not impartial; it yields diverse and at times conflicting outcomes influenced by both natural forces and human interventions.
In the lower delta, a historical tidal river management practice called austomashi badh involved cutting dams to facilitate tidal water flow for irrigating low-lying paddy fields. The delta’s river network underwent disruptions during the British colonial era due to the construction of railways and river infrastructure, altering the landscape significantly.
Introduced in the 1960s through the Coastal Embankment Project (CEP) supported by Dutch consultants, USAID, and the World Bank, modern embankments with polders and sluice gates aimed to enhance rice production by managing floods during the Green Revolution. Critics viewed the CEP as a technocratic solution neglecting the delta’s ecological intricacies and social dynamics.
Following Cyclones Sidr (2007) and Aila (2009), the lower delta emerged as a focal point for climate-related challenges. The ongoing Coastal Embankment Improvement project seeks to fortify existing embankments to shield communities and ecosystems from escalating sea levels, salinity intrusion, and the heightened frequency of cyclones.
Through my immersive study with local residents, I discovered contrasting experiences with embankments. Many landless families displaced by riverbank erosion resettled on the outer side of the embankment. Additionally, embankments serve as temporary shelters during cyclones, floods, and erosion events.
Witnessing the construction of a 31-kilometer concrete embankment on a nearby island, I observed the transformative impact on local life. Improved transportation services and the hope for enhanced protection against cyclones and safeguarding of livelihoods were evident among the islanders.
Despite the anticipated benefits, embankments in the lower delta often fall short in providing adequate protection for both humans and wildlife. Embankment failures during cyclones have led to severe floods, salinity intrusion, and prolonged waterlogging.
While climate change is often blamed for embankment collapses, it is essential to recognize the political dynamics behind such occurrences. Damage caused by shrimp and fish gher owners who breach embankments to introduce saline water into their enclosures is a significant factor contributing to the degradation of embankments.
Local elites with ties to national politics frequently engage in illegal practices that compromise embankment integrity. Understanding the underlying politics is crucial instead of solely attributing embankment failures to climate change.
In villages near the Sundarbans, many shrimp farmers express a desire to return to traditional paddy cultivation. However, hurdles posed by local elites hinder their transition, underscoring the political complexities associated with embankment infrastructure in the region.
As the lower delta marks the anniversary of Cyclone Aila, communities continue to face challenges, with damaged embankments awaiting government intervention. The politicization of embankments has further exacerbated the situation, reflecting the need for a deeper understanding of the social and political dimensions at play.
Despite the persistent risks, local communities exhibit remarkable adaptability in responding to embankment failures. Engaging in collective efforts to repair embankments, they demonstrate a profound sense of ownership and resilience in maintaining crucial infrastructure.
For these communities, embankments symbolize both safety and uncertainty, emphasizing the delicate balance between protection and vulnerability in the delta region. Rather than a mere technical solution, embankments embody a complex interplay of memory, labor, and solidarity deeply intertwined with the local way of life.
The entire lifecycle of an embankment—from its construction to collapse and repair—holds valuable insights into the societal fabric and resilience of human communities in the face of environmental challenges.