7.6. Climate-induced displacement

Due to its geographical location, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change, and disasters including seasonal flooding, landslides, and cyclones.681 Some estimates suggest that disasters triggered the internal displacement of 3.4 million people between 2021 and 2023.682 Many displaced persons end up in informal settlements with precarious living conditions.683 Climate change also plays a role in emigration from Bangladesh, according to Maria Camila Duque, assistant professor in law at O.P. Jindal Global University in India, including disasters destroying people’ homes and assets.684 Some estimates suggest that Bangladesh could lose 11 % of its land by 2050, due to a projected 50-centimetre sea level rise, which would affect approximately 15 million people living in the low-lying coastal regions,685 and displace over 22 million people.686

Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to tidal flooding caused by rising sea levels, as two-thirds of the country is less than five metres above sea level, and 28 % of the population lives along the coast.687 In August 2024, flash floods and heavy monsoon rains created the worst climate disaster in recent times, according to state authorities. Moreover, climate-induced flooding affected almost 6 million people.688 The National Disaster Response Coordination Center (NDRCC) reported that more than one million people were cut off by the flooding with displaced 500 000 persons staying in 3 403 evacuation shelters.689

According to UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), children in Bangladesh are the most exposed in the world to climate and environmental hazards,690 with Bangladesh ranked on the 15th place among 167 countries.691 Moreover, in 2024, the education of 35 million Bangladeshi children was affected by the severe weather events, including heatwaves causing the largest school disruptions.692