Bangladesh is among the nation’s most severely affected by the world's most pressing climate crisis. For example, extreme events such as floods, tropical cyclones, and sea level rise alter coastlines, causing displacement, property destruction, livelihood loss, and migration in the Bhola island areas. However, research on migration and coastal dynamics is limited, hindering the development of effective policymaking and adaptation strategies. Therefore, understanding these interconnections is crucial for developing long-term solutions. The present study aims to assess coastline alterations-induced human displacement using geospatial modeling. The paper utilizes Landsat and Sentinel satellite images from 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2025 to detect coastlines using the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI). It also measures land use and land cover to identify population movement directions and analyze migration trends using a geostatistical approach. The study reveals significant coastal erosion on Bhola Island, affecting approximately 4.22 km² of land per year and resulting in socioeconomic consequences and migration due to reduced vegetation cover, steep slope gradients, soil compaction, and human influence. The findings also indicate that from 2001 to 2025, the area of settlement patterns expanded from 195.73 km² to 414.59 km², with the majority of migration originating from coastal regions among the seven upazilas. The paper emphasizes the significance of community-based needs assessment for safe migration in climate change adaptation, proposing dynamic resettlement projects to address livelihood concerns for internally displaced individuals.
Eahya Al Huda (Sat,) studied this question.