Poor Livelihood Assets and Adaptive Strategies of the Riverbank Erosion Induced Charland People in Bangladesh: A Study on the Teesta Riverine Ecosystem

Abstract Riverbank erosion in Bangladesh, intensified by climate change and fragile sandy soils, displaces thousands every year all over the country, leading to widespread human suffering and economic hardship. The present study is organised to assess the vulnerabilities and survival strategies of displaced households in Char Bidyananda, a separated village in the Teesta riverine ecosystem of Bangladesh. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the present study is primarily based on data gathered through structured interviews with 107 purposively selected displaced household heads, supplemented by observation, focus group discussions (FGDs), case studies, and informal interviews with key stakeholders. Research findings indicate that repeated displacements have caused severe financial, social, and health insecurities and have pushed them into a precarious state of plight. Significant losses include homesteads, crops, agricultural land, social care, and reported experiences of depression and anxiety. These losses illustrate multidimensional vulnerabilities, including physical, social, and motivational. The Pressure and Release (PAR) model is applied to analyse how these vulnerabilities arise from underlying root causes, dynamic pressures, and unsafe conditions. Charland people are compelled to engage in a range of adaptive strategies, including unpaid household chores and low-income-earning activities, in the absence of institutional support. The study recommends urgent community-based policy interventions, infrastructure development, vocational training, and sustainable livelihood initiatives to reduce vulnerability and strengthen household resilience