River bank erosion induced settlement displacement and livelihood impacts in Saghata Upazila of Gaibandha District
摘要
Riverbank erosion is a common phenomenon in Bangladesh as an alluvial landform with high population density makes it more vulnerable. Along with the flood events, the riverbank erosion leads to the settlement displacement is become a burning issues in the country. The objective of the research to examines the riverbank induced settlement displacement and the livelihood impacts on the displaced people. The Jamuna River is one of the mighty river which experienced flood and bank erosion almost every year as the study area have been select the Saghata Upazila in the Gaibandha District which located just beside the river. To achieve the research goals, primary data were collected using a structural questionnaire survey, and secondary data were collected from satellite imageries with different spatial and temporal resolution over the study area. This study used LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM), Operational Land Imager (OLI), and Thematic Infrared Sensors (TIRS) satellite images. The raw data were processed and analyzed through Geographical Information System (GIS), Google Earth Engine (GEE), and MS Excel software. The result found that the LULC changed over the time and riverbank erosion lead the river channel shift which accelerate the settlement displacemnt in the study area. The river channel shifted towards the settlement area and almost 20.84 km2 land area eroted and 0.158 km2 settlement area displaced during 2000 to 2023. Riverbank decay negatively impacts people and their livelihoods. There are many internally displaced people in the Bharatkhali, Saghata, Haldiya, Kamalerpara, and Muktinagar unions of Saghata Upazila of Gaibandha District who are vulnerable, and their economic situation is fragile. Bank lines shift, rivers widen, and settlements are uprooted due to erosion and accretion. Those who were eradicated suffered land loss, livelihood loss, poverty and food insecurity. In five capital based livelihood assessment result shows the physical capital score increases 0.4 to 0.6, human capital decreased 0.8 to 0.4, financial capital declined 0.6 to 0.2, natural capital 1 to 0.4 and social capital also decreased 0.73 to 0.4 before to after the displacement, respectively.