GovTwin / Institution

Nalitabari (Sherpur)

Local Gov

A northern border upazila at the foot of the Garo Hills along the Indian frontier, mixing plain agriculture with forest-edge tracts and an indigenous Garo presence.

Wealth rank 186/452 (1 = poorest upazila)

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

poverty Household wealth is below average, with a mean Relative Wealth Index of -0.117 (national rank 186 of 452, fifth decile). So what: Below-average wealth limits adaptation to flash-flood and forest-edge risks. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX)
environment Forest-edge tracts in the Garo Hills belt face clearance and illegal logging, with recurring human-elephant conflict. So what: Forest degradation and crop-raiding undermine ecology and farm incomes. Source: Bangladesh Forest Department
climate disaster Hill-fed rivers descending from the Garo Hills cause flash flooding in the plains below during heavy rainfall. So what: Flash floods damage crops and homes with little warning. Source: Department of Disaster Management

Probable solutions

Restore degraded Garo Hills forest through participatory afforestation and curb illegal logging at the border Responsible: Bangladesh Forest Department · policy proposal
Build small-scale water retention and flood-buffering structures on hill-fed rivers for dry-season irrigation Responsible: Bangladesh Water Development Board · policy proposal