Coast Classifica+on: Bangladesh Perspec+ve: Department of Geography and Environment University of Dhaka

Coast Classifica+on: Bangladesh Perspec+ve
Lecture 4
13 September 2023
Department of Geography and Environment

University of Dhaka
Dept. of Geography and Environment
FACULTY OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Coastal Classifica+on
Coastal zone of Bangladesh is geomorphologically and hydrologically
dominated by the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) river system
and Bay of Bengal.
The coastal zone of Bangladesh covers an area of 47,201 km2, 32% of

the country, being the landmass of 19 districts.
Around 35 million people, represenXng 29% of the populaXon, live in

the coastal zone. Coastal zone of Bangladesh consists of 19 coastal
districts that are Jessore, Narail, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Chandpur,
Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirozpur, JhalakaX, Barguna, Barisal,
Patuakhali, Bhola, Lakshmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chi]agong, and Cox's
Bazar.
Background of the classifica+on

For ICZM purposes, the 1999 concept (MoWR 1999) note suggests as a starXng
point to take all sea and estuary facing administraXve districts, including those
along the lower reaches of the Meghna Estuary up to Chandpur and those
facing the Tentulia and Baleswar Rivers. This led to a coastal zone consisXng of
16 districts.
A more systemaXc approach to delineate the coastal zone was iniXated in

March 2002. The three basic natural system processes and events that govern
opportuniXes and vulnerabiliXes of the coastal zone of Bangladesh are:
Xdal fluctuaXons;
saliniXes (soil, surface water or groundwater); and
cyclone and storm surge risk.
Considering these three criteria, an assessment has been done on the

delineaXon of the coastal zone. For each of these criteria, threshold values have
been specified and corresponding impacted areas were determined.

Based on these criteria, a proposal for coastal zone delineaXon was
developed. A themaXc summary of this proposal was widely circulated &
described in the Coast News, Issue 6 (April-June 2002) for comments &
suggesXon.
The proposal was presented and discussed in the Advisory Commi]ee

meeXng of the PDO-ICZMP project on August 08, 2002 and during the
Dialogue between September 29 and October 06, 2002.
The delineaXon of the coastal zone was discussed in detail during the 5th
Inter-Ministerial Technical Commi]ee MeeXng of the ICZMP on April 20,
2003. In compliance with the decisions of the meeXng, detailed &
updated proposal for the ‘DelineaXon of the Coastal Zone’ was sent to 30
members/observers of the Technical Commi]ee and three other experts
on May 19, 2003.

Based on these criteria, a proposal for coastal zone delineaXon was
developed. A themaXc summary of this proposal was widely circulated &
described in the Coast News, Issue 6 (April-June 2002) for comments &
suggesXon.
The proposal was presented and discussed in the Advisory Commi]ee

meeXng of the PDO-ICZMP project on August 08, 2002 and during the
Dialogue between September 29 and October 06, 2002.
The delineaXon of the coastal zone was discussed in detail during the 5th
Inter-Ministerial Technical Commi]ee MeeXng of the ICZMP on April 20,
2003. A further discussion was made at the 6th Inter-Ministerial
Technical Commi]ee meeXngs held and October 25, 2003 where
the delineaXon of the coastal zone was approved
Philosophy behind the classifica+on

The GoB policy note on ICZM (MoWR, 1999) specifies the coastal zone as follows:
A. Coastal areas are diverse in funcXon and form: they do not lend themselves well
to definiXon by strict spaXal boundaries. Unlike watersheds, there are no exact natural
boundaries that unambiguously delineate coastal areas.
B. Nevertheless, for management purposes, a variety of landwards and seawards

boundaries, ranging from fairly narrow and precise ones to much broader and nebulous
ones have been uXlized around the world. The boundaries of a coastal area may change
over Xme for management purposes, as the issues to be forged become more extensive
or complex and require more far-ranging soluXons.
C. We need not, therefore, worry much about our inability to develop a precise
definiXon of a coastal zone. It is be]er to view this concept as a means of focusing
a]enXon on the emergence of an innovaXve framework for planning and management
to help make wise and sustainable use of resources.
Delinea+on of Land Area

Many criteria have been used to delineate the land area of the
coastal zone.
Most commonly, criteria relate to:

natural system processes;
economic opportuniXes (e.g., tourism);
social aspects (e.g., fisher villages); and
erosion prone areas.
It appears that three basic natural system processes and events

govern all these criteria:
Xdal water movements;
salinity intrusion; and
cyclones / storm surges.
Tidal water movement

The annual average of daily water level fluctuaXons (differences
between high and low water levels during a day) has been taken
to characterize the coastal zone from the perspecXve of the
criterion “Xdal water movements”. The following classes would
roughly represent different Xdal zones with respect to this
criterion:
* <0.3 m range of daily fluctuaXons
* 0.3-1 m regular Xdal movements
* 1-2 m strong Xdal movements
* > 2 m very strong Xdal movements
The annual average water level fluctuaXons between high and
low water during a Xdal cycle of 0.3 m were taken as the
threshold value.
Salinity intrusion
Three different indicators are used for soil, surface water and
groundwater saliniXes.
A. Soil saliniXes are available from SRDI (2001). Dry season soil
saliniXes were classified into the following groups of electric
conducXvity (the unit is deciSiemen per meter:
dS/m):
* <4 dS/m slightly saline
* 4-8 dS/m slightly to moderately saline
* 8-15 dS/m moderately to highly saline
* >15 dS/m highly saline
SaliniXes of <4 dS/m are within the tolerance of the commonly
grown crops and vegetaXon of the area (SRDI, 2001) and 4 dS/m
accordingly is considered the threshold
level for soil salinity.
Salinity intrusion
B. Surface water salinity is categorized in the NaXonal Water
Management Plan (WARPO, 2001) into the following groups (for
average dry season values):
* <1 dS/m
* 1-5 dS/m
* 5-10 dS/m
* >10 dS/m
An electric conducXvity of 5 dS/m can be considered as
tolerance limit for fresh water vegetaXon and aquaXc
communiXes.
Salinity intrusion
C. The ground water salinity has been categorized into the
following groups (ESCAP/UN, 1987):
* <1d S/m
* 1-2 dS/m
* 2-5 dS/m
* 5-10 dS/m
* >10 dS/m
The Bangladesh standard for groundwater salinity is 600 mg
Chloride per liter. As this value is widely exceeded in coastal areas,
a more pracXcal level of 1000 mg/l of Chloride has been suggested
(ESCAP/UN, 1987). This would approximately correspond to a
threshold of 2 dS/m (1000mg/l Chloride soluXon generates EC of
1.5 to 2 dS/m at 20-30 0C).
Cyclone risk
A cyclone risk map, prepared by the Management InformaXon &
Monitoring (MIM) Division of the Disaster Management Bureau
(DMB) in 2001, was available that disXnguishes between the
following risk zones:
* No risk
* Wind risk
* Risk (low risk as menXoned in 2003)
* High Risk
Further communicaXons have happened with the Disaster
Management Bureau (DMB) in 2003. Both the “risk” and “high
risk” zones have been incorporated as coastal zone.
Iden+fica+on of coastal area

Depending on the indicator values, upazilas and districts are
classified.
Upazilas are considered coastal upazilas when the value for at least
one of the parameters is above the corresponding threshold values.
Districts are considered to be a coastal district when they “house”

at least one coastal upazila.
Based on this definiXon and the above analysis using the three
criteria: Xdal water movements, salinity intrusion and risk of
cyclones, 133 upazilas of 19 districts (total 147 upazilas) received
the idenXficaXon “coastal”, labeling these 19 districts as “coastal
districts”.

Tidal water level fluctuaXons above the threshold limit are found
in a total of 128 upazilas of 18 districts (87% of all upazilas).
Salinity levels above threshold values in the soil, surface or

groundwater, are found in 97 upazilas of 17 districts (66% of all
upazilas).
A total of 48 upazilas of 12 districts (33% of all upazilas) are

within the cyclone H and L risk areas.

In all 48 upazilas (12 districts) with cyclone risks, salinity and Xdal
movement indicators are also above threshold level. Together they
are considered the “first Xer of coastal upazilas” facing the sea and
or the lower estuaries, where interacXon with the marine
environment is most intensive. This area will be referred to as
exposed coast.
A second Xer of coastal upazilas consists of 44 upazilas (11 districts)

in which two indicators, viz. Xdal water fluctuaXons and saliniXes,
were found to have values above threshold levels.
The third Xer of coastal upazilas incorporates 41 upazilas (10
districts) where only one indicator is found having values above
threshold levels. Upazilas in the second and third Xer together
consXtute the interior coast.
Independently¸ delineaXon of the coastal zone in Bangladesh is

done for many different purposes and from different
perspecXves.
The Soil Resources Development InsXtute (SRDI) specified “the

coastal area which is affected by Xdal changes in water level in
the Bay of Bengal, extends up to 150 km from the coast”.
The SRDI definiXon incorporates the Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali,

JhalkhaX, Barguna, and Satkhira districts and part of the Cox’s
Bazaar, Chi]agong, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Pirojpur,
Bagerhat and Khulna districts (SRDI, 2001).
DPHE defined a coastal belt as being “the area

where saline water has intruded into shallow
or deep aquifers or both” (DANIDA, 1999) and
included 84 upazilas under the Khulna,
Patuakhali, Barisal, Faridpur, Noakhali and
Chi]agong districts in the coastal zone.
Based on Geomorphology
Three disXnct geo-morphological zones have been

idenXfied in these coastlands:
1. Ganges Tidal Plain (western zone)
2. Meghna Deltaic Plain (central zone)
3. Chi]agong Coastal Plain (eastern zone)
The western region known as Ganges Xdal plain,

comprises the semi-acXve delta and is crisscrossed by
numerous channels and creeks.
The central region is the most acXve and conXnuous

processes of accreXon and erosion. Meghna river estuary
lies here in this zone.
The eastern region is covered by hilly area that is more

stable.

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Coast Classiﬁca+on: Bangladesh Perspec+ve

Department of Geography and Environment

The coastal zone of Bangladesh covers an area of 47,201 km2, 32% of

Around 35 million people, represenXng 29% of the populaXon, live in

Background of the classiﬁca+on

A more systemaXc approach to delineate the coastal zone was iniXated in

Considering these three criteria, an assessment has been done on the

Background of the classiﬁca+on

The proposal was presented and discussed in the Advisory Commi]ee

Background of the classiﬁca+on

The proposal was presented and discussed in the Advisory Commi]ee

Philosophy behind the classiﬁca+on

B. Nevertheless, for management purposes, a variety of landwards and seawards

Delinea+on of Land Area

Most commonly, criteria relate to:

It appears that three basic natural system processes and events

Tidal water movement

Iden+ﬁca+on of coastal area

Districts are considered to be a coastal district when they “house”

Iden+ﬁca+on of coastal area

Salinity levels above threshold values in the soil, surface or

A total of 48 upazilas of 12 districts (33% of all upazilas) are

Iden+ﬁca+on of coastal area

A second Xer of coastal upazilas consists of 44 upazilas (11 districts)

Independently¸ delineaXon of the coastal zone in Bangladesh is

The Soil Resources Development InsXtute (SRDI) speciﬁed “the

The SRDI deﬁniXon incorporates the Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali,

DPHE deﬁned a coastal belt as being “the area

Three disXnct geo-morphological zones have been

The western region known as Ganges Xdal plain,

The central region is the most acXve and conXnuous

The eastern region is covered by hilly area that is more

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