About the Island of Bhola

What is it like? - the environment

Bhola is a fertile, low-lying island with an economy based on agriculture and fishing. It is the largest of the river islands and like all of Bangladesh densely populated. The monsoon season runs from May to October and the cyclone seasons are April–May and September–November. In 2007 the monsoon was particularly heavy causing extensive flooding on Bhola and this was followed by the very severe Cyclone Sidr.

Being at the confluence of two mighty rivers and the even more mighty sea, Bhola is at the mercy of a combination of manmade and natural environmental forces, which is becoming increasingly destructive.

•  Rising sea levels

Prior to 1960 erosion was not a problem for Bhola. But since then rising sea levels have dramatically reshaped Bhola. Firstly, the rising sea has directly encroached on the coastline.

Secondly and far worse, the rising sea level has changed the river currents which now flow more strongly past Bhola. Already as much as half the island as it was in 1960 has been washed away, together with the homes of 500,000 people. But the island is growing longer as some of the land washed away from the North and sides of the island is deposited in the South.
All the indications are that the sea level in the Bay of Bengal will continue to rise implying that the erosion will, if anything, accelerate.

•  Flooding and cyclones

Glaciers melting because of global warming, changing agricultural and water management practices in northern India and more severe monsoons have all increased the risk of flooding. Perhaps more so further upriver than at Bhola. But Bhola is in the frontline when cyclones reach the coast and these seem to have become more destructive in recent years.

The greatest ever loss of life was from the “Bhola cyclone” in 1970 which laid waste the southern half of the island. (Disaffection at the Pakistan government’s handling of this emergency led to East Pakistan seceding and becoming Bangladesh.)

•  Pollution

The river pollution is all too evident just north of Bhola near Chandpur. Here the relatively clean clear waters of the Meghna join the murky waters of the Ganges/Padma, which serves as the human, animal and industrial sewer for northern India. At that point the two streams can be seen flowing side by side for a while without mingling.

When the river floods on Bhola the land is polluted. But all the time the fish are being polluted.

•  Salt water contamination

As the sea level rises, salt water penetrates further upriver. So the water around Bhola is becoming more saline which affects the types of fish that can live there.

Cyclones cause sea surges which drive salt water inland poisoning what was previously good agricultural land and contaminating wells and other water resources. It was the sea surge driven by Cyclone Nargis that caused the devastation in Burma (Myanmar) in 2008.

What is it like? - the environment