Public Story
Water World II
Estimated population of the city is more than 6.5 million. The Port of Chittagong is an important driver of the Bangladeshi economy, handling over 90% of the country's international trade. The effects of climate change – rising sea level and sea surface temperature, emission of carbon by first world country, deforestation, global warming – have brought a sudden vulnerability to the lives and livelihoods of people living in Chittagong city and coastal areas of Bangladesh.
People from all over Bangladesh who has come to the city to make a living, leaving areas plagued by river erosion, lack of jobs, and natural disasters such as cyclones. As they become refugees in this mega-city, however, they still find it difficult to deal with these recent onsets of climate change; the effects upon as large of a city as Chittagong are alarming. Locals such as myself are growing increasingly concerned, as we all may have to shift from our original localities due to this excess of water.
In the past few years, Tidal surge – water levels rising significantly above the tide levels that astronomy predicts - has begun to affect the city as much as twice a day, resulting in frequent flooding of residential and business areas.
If things continue to worsen, most area of Chittagong could become completely submerged in the near future.
A World Bank study that was released June 19,2013 forecasts a two degrees Celsius rise in the world’s average temperature in the next decades.
Considering the present warming trends, the reports warns that even 20 to 30 years from now shifting rain patterns could leave some areas of the country under water and some others without enough water for power generation, irrigation or even drinking.
Flood affected areas could increase by as much as 29 percent for a 2.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise in Bangladesh, says the report.
If the sea level rises 65 cm in 2080,around 40 percent arable land will be lost in southern Bangladesh, it notes about 20 million people in the coastal areas are affected by salinity in drinking water and rising sea levels,
Through these images, I focus on how climate change affects people and their surroundings. I am trying to bring out the misery of these climate refugees, who after losing their land and livelihoods in coastal regions still fall victim to tidal surge in mega-cities like Chittagong. I am also a part of it; my family is greatly affected by this disaster and if it continues, I could lose my roots. With my photographs, I am portraying a city that I am deeply connected with – and the suffering experienced by its inhabitants.
Jashim Salam
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