Integrated Climate-Resilient Coastal Zone Management in Bangladesh: Policy, Practice, and Implications

The coastal belt of Bangladesh, home to over 35 million people, is highly vulnerable to climate-induced hazards, including cyclones, sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, and ecosystem degradation. This article examines the current state and prospects of Integrated Climate-Resilient Coastal Zone Management (ICRCZM) in Bangladesh, considering the existing policies, practices, and implementation issues it raises. Drawing on a review of scientific literature and empirical data, this paper assesses the efficacy of governance and institutions, community-based adaptation, and ecosystem-based approaches in building resilience. The paper highlights significant progress in disaster preparedness, legislative formulation, and organizational shifts, while underscoring persistent deficiencies in governance, substandard integration, and marginal stakeholder engagement as formidable challenges. Additionally, it explores the potential of the blue economy for alternative livelihoods and sustainable economic development, serving as a further diversified approach to responding to hazards. An inclusive conceptual framework is presented that incorporates nature-based solutions, adaptive governance, socio-economic inclusion, and scientific renewal. The findings emphasize the necessity of ecosystem-based, integrative, and proactive coastal management to ensure the sustainable viability and adaptability of coastal areas in the face of escalating climate threats. This research provides policymakers, developers, and professionals with real-world information to enhance climate resilience in coastal Bangladesh.