Salty Water, Silent Tears

Climate change is intensifying the daily struggles of women in Bangladesh's coastal regions, where rising salinity, freshwater shortages and extreme weather are making everyday life increasingly difficult. Women in areas such as Shyamnagar in Satkhira district are bearing a disproportionate burden, spending hours collecting drinking water while facing health risks, social insecurity and growing domestic responsibilities.

Although climate change affects entire communities, its consequences are often more severe for women, who are frequently responsible for securing water, preparing food and maintaining household hygiene.

The Daily Struggle for Safe Drinking Water

A report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) highlights the growing water crisis faced by women in coastal Satkhira. In some areas, women have to travel two to five kilometres to collect safe water, making the journey two or three times a day. The task can consume up to six hours daily.

The time spent collecting water leaves women with less opportunity for education, paid work, rest and family care. During periods of extreme heat or adverse weather, the journey becomes even more exhausting.

Laxmi Rani Baidya, a woman from Shyamnagar, Satkhira, described the difficulties she faces outside her home.

"The challenges begin as soon as I step outside the house. Even when I try to speak about these problems as a woman, I sometimes wonder what the point is of repeating the same things again and again," she said, according to UNDP.

The water crisis also exposes women to harassment and other forms of insecurity. The UNDP report highlights concerns including unwanted remarks, harassment while collecting water, and the non-consensual recording and sharing of photographs or videos on social media.

Meanwhile, children and livestock may be left unattended while women spend hours searching for safe water.

Salinity and Its Impact on Women's Health

Increasing salinity in coastal water sources is raising concerns about women's health, particularly reproductive and maternal health. In areas where freshwater is scarce, women may have to rely on saline or otherwise unsuitable water for drinking and household use.

Momotaj Begum, from Chalkbara village in Gabura, Shyamnagar, described the physical toll of collecting water. According to a report by The Daily Star, she has to travel a considerable distance to find water and continues the task even when she is sick. Carrying water causes pain in her body and feet, and she cannot avoid the responsibility even during menstruation.

Such experiences highlight the unequal burden of water collection and the difficulties women face in maintaining personal hygiene when safe water is unavailable.

A study published in BMC Women's Health on October 1, 2025, examined 234 households in Gabura Union, Shyamnagar. Its findings add to the research examining the relationship between salinity exposure and reproductive health problems in coastal communities.

Research published in Frontiers in Public Health, based on interviews with 25 women and five married men across five climate-vulnerable unions in Shyamnagar, also documents concerns involving freshwater scarcity, skin disorders, reproductive and gynaecological health, and limited access to maternal healthcare.

Shefali Bibi, 45, from Datinakhali in Shyamnagar, described the impact of skin problems associated with the local water crisis.

"The itching keeps me awake at night. Even when I feel thirsty, I try not to drink more than one glass of water. The water crisis and salinity are gradually wearing us down," she said, according to The Daily Star.

Health experts have also raised concerns about the possible links between saline water consumption and high blood pressure, including risks during pregnancy. However, these relationships depend on several factors and should be assessed in light of the available scientific evidence.

Climate Change and the Burden of Unpaid Work

Women in coastal Bangladesh often shoulder the responsibility of securing drinking water, preparing meals, caring for children and older family members, and maintaining household hygiene. As freshwater becomes harder to access, these responsibilities grow.

The additional workload can reduce women's opportunities to earn an income, pursue education or participate in community decision-making. For women already facing economic insecurity, climate-related pressures can deepen existing inequalities.

The consequences extend beyond water scarcity. Extreme heat, changing rainfall patterns, coastal flooding and livelihood losses can place additional pressure on families, particularly those dependent on agriculture, fishing and other climate-sensitive activities.

Women from marginalised communities may face further disadvantages because of limited access to healthcare, financial resources, safe sanitation and alternative livelihood opportunities.

Adaptation Efforts and the Need for Sustainable Solutions

Climate adaptation initiatives have sought to improve access to safe water and strengthen livelihoods in coastal communities.

According to a UNDP announcement published on June 23, 2026, a coastal adaptation project implemented in Khulna and Satkhira between January 2019 and June 2026 reached more than 719,000 people directly or indirectly. The project supported the establishment of more than 15,700 climate-resilient water systems, helped 144,597 people gain year-round access to safe water and supported climate-resilient livelihoods for 24,724 households.

These initiatives demonstrate the potential of community-based adaptation. However, sustaining their benefits requires regular maintenance, reliable water management, local participation and long-term investment.

Rainwater harvesting, appropriate water-treatment systems, freshwater storage facilities and improved access to safe sanitation could help reduce the burden on women. Equally important are accessible healthcare services, reproductive health support, climate-resilient employment and measures to protect women from harassment while collecting water.

Women must also have a meaningful role in designing and implementing climate policies. A report published by Dhaka Tribune on June 6, 2026, highlighted calls from coastal and Indigenous women for greater inclusion in climate policymaking. The discussion involved women from communities including forest workers, fishers, farmers, tiger widows and members of the Munda community in Shyamnagar.

Their participation is essential because women who experience the consequences of climate change firsthand can help identify practical solutions that reflect local needs.

Putting Women at the Centre of Climate Action

The climate crisis in coastal Bangladesh is not simply an environmental challenge. It is also a question of public health, economic security, gender equality and human dignity.

For many women, the effects of climate change are visible in the hours spent searching for drinking water, the physical strain of carrying heavy containers, the difficulty of maintaining hygiene and the uncertainty surrounding their families' health and livelihoods.

Addressing these challenges requires more than emergency assistance. It demands sustained investment in safe water, healthcare, resilient livelihoods and community infrastructure, alongside stronger accountability and meaningful participation by women in decision-making.

As climate pressures intensify, protecting coastal women must become a central priority in Bangladesh's climate adaptation strategy. Their safety, health and economic security are not secondary concerns; they are essential to the resilience of entire communities.