Ripples of Change: Climate Challenges, Gender Inequities, and Community Resilience in Batiaghata, Khulna

In the heart of Batiaghata, Khulna, the Shoilmari River was once full and blooming, supporting paddy and other crop cultivation while serving as a thriving habitat for various fish species. Today, this vital resource is dying. According to experts, the river's demise is caused by sluice gate construction, unforeseen dams, and a lack of upstream flow. Additionally, the Shoilmari, the connecting river, became silted quickly when the piling pillars for the Rupsha Rail Bridge were installed (Roy, 2022; Shoilmari River in Its Death Throes, 2021). This condition exacerbates drought conditions, reduces precipitation, diminishes river flows, and hinders groundwater recharge (Hubbart & Bradford, 2024). These local issues echo findings from other regions, where poor water management, combined with climate change, leads to ecological degradation and exacerbates community vulnerabilities (Adnan et al., 2020; Mukherjee et al., 2021). The socio-economic consequences, including the disproportionate impact on women and adolescent girls, highlight the intersection of environmental and gender inequities (Ahmed et al., 2021; Parvin et al., 2019).

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“Climate change causes droughts. Rivers are dying. Our river (Shoilmari) is already dead.”

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This situation has left the people of Batiaghata grappling with drought, extreme heat, flooding, and rising water salinity, all of which have specific and profound impacts on girls. With saline water that worsens during floods as the river overflows and spreads, basic hygiene has become a daunting challenge for the community’s girls. Most homes lack attached bathrooms, making it especially hard to manage their periods in such unsanitary and uncomfortable conditions (Begum et al., 2023).

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“We feel itching, uncomfortable and dryness for using saline water during period. Using saline water while we use soap or hot water during period can cause infection and irregular menstruation. For this all, we get headache and fever, feel lethargic, body-ache, abdominal pain, vomiting, irritation, loss appetite.”

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Throughout the year—whether in the sweltering summer heat, the cool winter months, or during the monsoon floods—they use saline water. This constant exposure leads to irritation and dryness, making an already sensitive time even more uncomfortable. The combination of saline and unhygienic water, along with inadequate sanitation facilities, not only disrupts their menstrual health but also increases the risk of infections and other health complications. What should be a natural part of their lives has instead become a source of discomfort and struggle, as the basic act of maintaining hygiene feels increasingly out of reach (Hossen et al., 2022).

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During a cyclone or storm, when people seek shelter in a center, the experience of adolescent girls becomes a poignant tale of privacy lost. Cramped conditions force men and women to share the same bathroom and living areas, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that weighs heavily on girls, especially during their periods. While those in the shelter receive dry foods, water, and basic medicines, they find a distressing absence of menstrual pads or any related supplies (Islam et al., 2021).

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“We don’t get privacy there, as men and women have to share the same space, we can’t maintain the privacy there.”

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This shortage, compounded by the overwhelming congestion, intensifies the struggle for privacy, leaving girls feeling exposed and vulnerable. In this chaotic environment, maintaining even a shred of dignity seems nearly impossible. As they navigate their daily lives amidst the noise and crowding, the lack of personal space and proper care adds yet another layer to the burdens they already bear during such challenging times.

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In the drought-stricken lands of Batiaghata, where crops wither under the relentless sun, and in areas where saline intrusion leaves a big impact on soil fertility, hardship takes many forms. For families facing these struggles, the weight of failed harvests and shattered dreams can sometimes lead to desperate choices. In rare but painful moments, parents may consider marrying off their daughters, hoping that removing one mouth to feed might ease the burden (Parvin et al., 2019). But the girls, the Swapnasarathi team, refuse to let this happen.

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“I know a friend of mine who was compelled to marry off as her family goes through hardship…in such case of child marriage, we inform our madame and resist it together.”

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Swapnasarathi, an adolescent girls' group created and supported by BRAC, is made up of young girls who come together to raise awareness and protect vulnerable girls in their village from the threat of early marriage. When they hear of a girl at risk of being married off, they act quickly, informing their team leader and BRAC’s madam, and together, they work to stop it.

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Beyond preventing early marriage, these girls actively educate their communities on sustainable agricultural practices to help families cope with the pressures of climate change, which can often lead to desperate choices like marrying off their daughters (Mukherjee et al., 2021). They suggest the best crops to cultivate in each season, teach techniques for floating cultivation during floods, and advise on vegetables and livestock to enhance their yards, as well as methods for harvesting rainwater. In doing so, they empower families to adapt and thrive, helping them see the value of keeping their daughters in school and investing in their futures rather than resorting to marriage as a means of alleviating financial strain.

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Additionally, the Swapnasarathi girls actively resist any attempts by families to pull their daughters out of school due to climate-induced hardships, offering guidance based on their own knowledge and the advice of their madam, ensuring that education remains a priority alongside their efforts in climate mitigation (Ahmed et al., 2021). Members of Swapnasarathi also actively raise awareness among villagers about the importance of environmental preservation. They encourage the community to refrain from cutting down trees and to plant more instead. Additionally, they interpret warning signals from weather forecasts in simple language for community people.

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“Computer training, learning sewing machine…we could be self-dependent then, either by study or with these skills.”

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In the community, the girls longed for skills training in computer literacy and sewing, believing these abilities could lead to self-sufficiency. Yet, they faced numerous obstacles. Parental support was often lacking, and criticism from neighbors and relatives loomed large. Many in the community condemned their efforts, assuming that any interaction between boys and girls implied something inappropriate. This pervasive judgment made it difficult for the girls to pursue their dreams. However, they believed that if their families and neighbors offered support instead of criticism, they could work together to help the community adapt to climate change more effectively.