Paani Apas. Photo courtesy: Rafiqul Islam.
Paani Apas. Photo courtesy: Rafiqul Islam.

The story of Paani Apas

Community initiatives to address the water crisis in coastal Bangladesh.

Rafiqul Islam is an environment reporter based in Dhaka.

Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of global climate change and will face frequent flooding, storm surges, and cyclones in the coming years.

One of the major challenges that the climate crisis has posed is a rise in water salinity levels in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The salinity intrusion has reduced the availability of safe drinking water for coastal communities. The permissible salinity level in drinking water is 1000 milligrams (mg) per litre, while residents of the coastal areas in Bangladesh consume water with a salinity level between 1427 mg and 2406 mg per litre, on average.

In this video, we look at the problem of access to safe drinking water, how it places a burden on women and coastal families, and possible interventions in reducing climate change impact in Bangladesh.

Reporter/Camera: Rafiqul Islam

Edit/Producer: Sana Amir

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