Impact of Flood and Riverbank Erosion on Local Livelihoods: A Study on Char Janajat at Madaripur District

Dynamic riverbank erosion and perennial floods cause regular, severe socioeconomic devastation in the Padma River region of Bangladesh, resulting in widespread displacement and economic hardship for local communities. This study aims to analyze the specific impacts of these natural hazards on the livelihoods of the Char-Janajat population, a char land situated within the Padma River's active delta system. A comprehensive mixed-methods approach was employed, including a quantitative household survey of 100 households and qualitative focus group discussions, to compile detailed data on community vulnerability and circumstances. The findings highlight extensive negative consequences, particularly severe damage to housing, infrastructure, transportation networks, and agricultural practices, which is the most obviously affected sector due to the community’s farming dependency. The disasters also intensify existing difficulties concerning education, sanitation, and health. Although the population employs local adaptive measures, such as constructing temporary embankments and utilizing indigenous knowledge, many inhabitants believe that interventions by governmental and non-governmental organizations have been insufficient. This research emphasizes the critical need for integrated riverbank management strategies that comprehensively address both the environmental instability and the resulting human vulnerability, offering outcomes that can effectively guide policymakers in minimizing adverse effects.