A new BBS survey reveals Bangladesh has lost 3.75% of its farmland and 5.41% of natural forests in eight years due to urbanisation. While planted forests increased, the findings raise serious concerns over food security and environmental sustainability.
Bangladesh is facing mounting pressure on its food security as new data reveals a steady erosion of farmland—shrinking by 3.75% over the past eight years—largely due to rapid urban expansion.
This finding comes from a newly released national survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), which for the first time offers an in-depth snapshot of the country’s environmental and climate landscape.
The data, compiled under the ‘Strengthening Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Statistics (ECDS)’ project, covers the period from 2015 to 2023 and was unveiled on 22 June at a high-level seminar hosted at the BBS Auditorium in Dhaka.
But shrinking farmland is just one part of the story. The survey also reveals that natural forest cover has declined by 5.41% during the same period. While a 27.36% increase in planted forests, particularly through social forestry, offers a glimmer of hope, experts caution it may not fully compensate for the loss of natural ecosystems.
The comprehensive environmental survey goes well beyond land statistics. It includes the 2024 Household-Based Environmental Survey (HBES), data on water use and material consumption, waste management trends in both urban and rural areas, and status reports on polluted water bodies, solid waste, and e-waste.
“This is a landmark step in building an environmental statistics framework for Bangladesh,” said Mohammad Saddam Hossain Khan, Project Director of ECDS, who presented the key findings at the event. “The goal is to systematically track how climate change and natural disasters affect our country—and how we’re managing our natural resources in response.”
Chief guest Aleya Akter, Secretary of the Statistics and Information Division at the Ministry of Planning, underscored the importance of reliable environmental data in shaping future policies. Other prominent guests included BIDS Director General AK Enamul Haque and BBS Director General Muhammed Mizanur Rahman.
Seven major survey reports were released as part of the ECDS initiative. These include accounts of land and forest ecosystems, water resource flow data, and international reporting templates aligned with the UN’s System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA).
Experts warn the findings should serve as a wake-up call. With agricultural land disappearing and forests under strain, Bangladesh’s food security and environmental resilience may be at serious risk unless urgent, integrated action is taken.
