As floodwaters frequently engulf homes in the haor basin, and drought grips the high Barind, millions in rural Bangladesh face annual struggles. Climate change has disrupted once predictable weather, leading to destruction in one area and drought in another.
In response, the government has rolled out the Climate Resilient and Livelihood Enhancement Project (CRALEP), funded with Tk1,268.80 crore. This initiative aims to fight poverty and bolster resilience in flood-prone haor and drought-affected high Barind communities. The project is set to run from January 2026 to December 2030, managed by the Local Government Engineering Department.
CRALEP will impact 33 upazilas across eight districts in the Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Rajshahi divisions. Funding comes from the government, international lenders like the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and grants from Denmark’s development agency, DANIDA.
Experts note that CRALEP aligns with Bangladesh’s climate strategies. It aims to create resilient infrastructure and enhance food security at a crucial time when climate-related disasters are on the rise. This project sees poverty not just as an economic issue, but as a problem tied to repeated climate challenges.
In haor areas, early floods ruin boro crops, while the Barind suffers from prolonged dry spells, affecting both agriculture and income. To counter this, CRALEP plans to build or upgrade 334 kilometers of rural roads, helping connect communities and improve market access. It will also develop 58 rural markets and construct 34 ghats for water transport.
The project emphasizes livelihoods, too. Around 40,000 youth will receive vocational training, while another 20,150 will get entrepreneurship training to boost self-employment. Nearly 3,000 members of Labour Contracting Societies will also benefit from sustainable livelihood support.
Recognizing the vulnerability of haor settlements during floods, CRALEP will enhance village services in 320 haor villages. This includes building walkways, toilet blocks, and tube wells, along with 72 kilas for temporary crop storage and emergency shelter during floods.
Additional plans include constructing 72 kilometers of internal walkways, installing 480 toilets and 720 tube wells, and employing nature-based solutions for village protection in 280 haor villages.
A senior Planning Commission official mentioned that CRALEP would significantly contribute to protecting development gains in areas most at risk from climate change. Once in action, the project aims to cut poverty, improve climate resilience, and tackle disaster challenges. It seeks to diversify livelihoods and enhance community well-being.
Bangladesh, a rapidly growing economy, remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries. With ongoing challenges from flooding, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures, rural lives and infrastructure are under constant threat. According to the World Bank, nearly 1 million people in Bangladesh could be displaced by the end of this decade due to climate impacts, highlighting the urgent need for projects like CRALEP.
Overall, the success of CRALEP could reshape the landscape of rural Bangladesh, providing a model for resilience amid the pressing realities of climate change.
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