Challenges, Issues, and Climate-Driven Impacts of Geohazards on Society and Sustainability of Bangladesh: Perspectives from Media Coverage

Abstract

This study explores the climate-driven challenges and societal implications of geohazards in Bangladesh, focusing on media-reported events and their relationship with rainfall patterns. Recent climatic changes have significantly influenced the frequency and intensity of geohazards such as floods, cyclones, landslides, lightning, and river erosion posing growing threats to infrastructure, livelihoods, and sustainable development. While media reports serve as a key source of hazard documentation, many reports in national dailies are imprecise or lack sufficient detail, making it difficult to fully understand the real-world impacts. Therefore, this research identifies the limitations of existing media coverage and aims to address research gaps related to the challenges, issues, and societal impacts of geohazards. The study analyzes 17 (seventeen) years of meteorological data and nine years of media-reported geohazard events to assess the influence of precipitation patterns, particularly during the monsoon season (June–September), on hazard occurrences. The findings confirm that monsoonal rainfall is a primary driver of geohazards, with river erosion, lightning, and tornadoes being among the most frequently reported. Housing and crop damage were found to be the most significant consequences, disproportionately affecting village-level communities, economy and livelihood. This research emphasizes the urgent need for an integrated approach for geohazard data collection, combining scientific and media sources. It recommends the development of a centralized and reliable media archive and establishment of a National Climate database for hazard monitoring, reporting and the incorporation of climate-sensitive strategies in national planning and policy implementation. Ultimately, the study supports Bangladesh’s sustainable development efforts by enhancing understanding of how precipitation-linked hazards affect society and proposing practical measures for risk reduction, adaptation and resilience building.