GovTwin / Institution
Khulna District
Local Gov
A southwestern delta district fronting the Sundarbans, Khulna combines an industrial-port city with vast tidal wetlands and mangrove. Its economy spans shrimp aquaculture, jute and port-linked industry, all set within a low-lying, salinity-prone coastal landscape.
Wealth rank 44/64
(1 = poorest district)
Warming +0.35°C
(1980s–2020s)
Air NO₂ #51/64
(1 = most polluted)
Night-lights +155%
(2014–23 activity)
Built-up 42 km²
Forest loss 106 ha
(2001–23)
Rainfall 1,773 mm/yr
Indicators: Meta RWI (HDX); ERA5-Land; MODIS; Sentinel-5P; VIIRS night-lights; GHSL; Hansen v1.11; CHIRPS v2.0. Exposure: GloFAS v2.1, FABDEM, MODIS LST, ACAG PM2.5, WorldPop 2020.
Problems and issues
- environment Khulna held about 1,430.9 sq km of mangrove in 2000 (the Sundarbans front) and lost 105.6 ha of tree cover over 2001-2023, signalling pressure on the coastal forest buffer. So what: Mangrove degradation removes the district's first line of defense against cyclones and storm surge. Source: Global Mangrove Watch (2000) via Google Earth Engine
- water Permanent surface water covers 319.9 sq km of tidal rivers, shrimp ghers and channels, a brackish, saline-influenced system that complicates freshwater supply and irrigation. So what: Salinity intrusion into water and soils undermines drinking water, crops and public health across the coastal zone. Source: JRC Global Surface Water (permanent water) via Google Earth Engine
- poverty Khulna ranks 44th of 64 districts on mean Relative Wealth Index (1=poorest), reflecting widespread low household wealth despite its industrial and port base. So what: Weak household buffers leave coastal communities exposed when cyclones or salinity destroy livelihoods. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX), ~2.4 km grid
- climate disaster The district receives about 1,773 mm of annual rainfall and sits in a low-lying delta with rising daytime surface heat (recent 26.6 C, surface-heat trend +0.16 C), concentrating cyclone, surge and waterlogging risk. So what: Compound flood and surge hazard repeatedly damages embankments, aquaculture and settlements. Source: CHIRPS v2.0 precipitation (UCSB Climate Hazards Group) via Google Earth Engine
- air quality Recent aerosol optical depth of 0.604 ranks Khulna 29th of 64 districts, an urban-industrial haze signal around the port city even though NO2 (29.8 umol/m2) ranks comparatively low at 51st. So what: Industrial and port-related particulates add a chronic respiratory burden in the city. Source: MODIS MAIAC aerosol optical depth (550 nm) via Google Earth Engine
Probable solutions
- Reinforce community co-management and anti-encroachment patrols in the Sundarbans impact zone and restore degraded mangrove fringes. Responsible: Bangladesh Forest Department · Sundarbans Reserved Forest co-management framework
- Expand managed aquifer recharge, pond-sand filters and piped desalinated supply for saline-affected coastal communities. Responsible: Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) · policy proposal
- Rehabilitate and raise coastal polder embankments and maintain the cyclone shelter network across the delta. Responsible: Bangladesh Water Development Board · Coastal Embankment Improvement Project
- Promote salinity-tolerant rice varieties and diversified, climate-resilient aquaculture to stabilize coastal incomes. Responsible: Department of Agricultural Extension · policy proposal