Published: TUESDAY August 27, 2024: 'Bangladesh From Above' by ZUMA Press award winning photo-journalist Muhammad Amdad Hossain: Bangladesh, to the east of India on the Bay of Bengal, is a South Asian country marked by lush greenery and many waterways, its capital Dhaka is widely considered to be the most densely populated built-up urban area in the world. With two-thirds of the country less than 20 feet above sea level and with rapidly growing urban centers, Bangladesh is highly threatened by climate change. By 2050, Bangladesh will lose 17 percent of its territory due to rising sea levels, resulting in the loss one third of the country's agricultural land. Projected sea level rise of 0.5 meters would contribute to millions of internal migrants by midcentury. If not addressed, these challenges could lead to a proliferation of climate-vulnerable refugee settlements, further straining already limited resources. Welcome to 'Bangladesh From Above'
© zReportage.com Issue #952 Story of the Week: Published: TUESDAY August 27, 2024: 'Bangladesh From Above' by ZUMA Press award winning photo-journalist Muhammad Amdad Hossain: Bangladesh, to the east of India on the Bay of Bengal, is a South Asian country marked by lush greenery and many waterways, its capital Dhaka is widely considered to be the most densely populated built-up urban area in the world. With two-thirds of the country less than 20 feet above sea level and with rapidly growing urban centers, Bangladesh is highly threatened by climate change. By 2050, Bangladesh will lose 17 percent of its territory due to rising sea levels, resulting in the loss one third of the country's agricultural land. Projected sea level rise of 0.5 meters would contribute to millions of internal migrants by midcentury. If not addressed, these challenges could lead to a proliferation of climate-vulnerable refugee settlements, further straining already limited resources. Welcome to 'Bangladesh From Above'

Local people fish with hand-made nets on the banks of Feni River, ignoring the strong flow of flood water along the Muhuri Dam Project of Sonagazi Upazila. The WHO estimates that 97% of the people of Bangladesh have access to water and only 40% percent have proper sanitation.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Commuters make their way along the flooded Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Muhuriganj after heavy monsoon rains in Bangladesh. At least 13 people were killed; a total of 43 regions affected by flash floods.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Aerial view of a flooded village in Bishumier Hat area of Mirsrai Upazila. At least 15 people have been killed, and dozens districts of Bangladesh have been inundated by the flash floods during a heavy monsoon.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Workers process dried fish at the Chittagong facility, the largest dried fish processing factory in Bangladesh. Sun-drying is a method of keeping fish in the sun to slowly remove water. This system keeps various micro-organisms alive and helps the fish dry out correctly.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Workers collect marigold flowers from a flower garden in Jhikargacha upazila in Jessore. Flowers have been cultivated in Jhikargacha upazila on 630 hectares of land. Famed for the flowers grown here, the area has been termed the 'Flower Capital' of Bangladesh.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

A traditional boat race passes under a bridge of the Titas River in Brahmanbaria as thousands of spectators from the coastal area came and enjoyed the annual event. 14 boats from nearby ears of Brahmanbaria, Habiganj and Kishoreganj took part.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Gol Talab, also known as Nawab Bari Pukur, is a small oval-shaped pond in Old Dhaka. Once the capital city had 300 ponds but the number has now shrunk to only 30. Gol Talab, a world heritage site, is one of these last ponds that have an important environmental impact on the biodiversity of the urban area.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Workers tend to salt fields on the seashore of bashkhali Island near chittagong. The salt industry being one of the largest labor intensive cottage industries of Bangladesh absorbs largely around roughly 5 million people directly or indirectly.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Aerial view of the geometric design of the islamic 201 Dome Mosque in South Pathalia village.Built by the Heroic Freedom Fighter Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Welfare Trust, the mosque is expected to have a capacity of about 15,000 devotees and the highest minaret in Bangladesh. According to the 2022 national government census, Sunni Muslims constitute approximately 91 percent of the population and Hindus approximately 8 percent.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Fishermen sleep on the decks of their fishing boat. They catch fish in the deep sea all night and return to the Chittagong fishing ghat on the river bank and sleep under the open sky.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Fishermen sleep on the decks of their fishing boats. They catch fish in the deep sea all night and return to Chittagong fishing ghat on the river bank and sleep during the day. Chittagong and Cox's Bazar is the main center of ocean fishing in all Bangladesh, where over 40,000 families engaged in the fishing industry.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

A farmer salvages whats is left of their crop after flash floods swept the area in Sunamganj. The people of North-Eastern Bangladesh are experiencing the worst flooding in living memory, 94 percent of the land is submerged by floodwaters.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

A small village marooned and cut off by waters after flash floods in Sunamganj region. The people of North-Eastern Bangladesh are experiencing the worst flooding in living memory. At least 26 people have died in monsoon flooding and lightning strikes.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

A man casts a fishing net over murky waters next to a stranded tractor amid a submerged agricultural area after flash floods in Sunamganj region. The people of North-Eastern Bangladesh are experiencing the worst flooding in living memory.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

This 115-year-old Boli Khela wrestling at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram has become an integral part of the folk culture of Bangladesh. Mokkar Boli Khela is a special type of wrestling, which is held in Madarsha Union. The participants are called 'Bali' and in the regional language of Chittagong, it is known as Bali khela.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

The golden 100 feet tall statue of the reclining Gautama Buddha in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of North Mithachari is rich in traditional Buddhist heritage, Theravada Buddhism is now the third largest religion in Bangladesh with about 0.7% of population. According to the 2022 census, Sunni Muslims constitute approximately 91 percent of the population and Hindus approximately 8 percent.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Glowing view from above as devotees attend prayer with burning incense and light oil lamps before 'break fasting' during a religious festival called Rakher Upabash at Shri Shri Lokenath Brahmachari Ashram temple in Barodi, near Dhaka. Bengali people of the Hindu faith in Bangladesh sit in prayer celebrating the 18th century Hindu Saint Baba Lokenath with a 'Rakher Upobas' prayer and fast day.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Farmers pilot river boats to collect water lilies in Satla Union village in Uzirpur upazila in Bangladesh. Water lilies are cultivated in about 10,000 acres of these lush wetlands. 80% of the villagers are involved in water lilies cultivation and marketing. The lilies growing season is four months, starting from August till November.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

A worker loads baskets of guava fruit at the floating guava market of Bangladesh in the southern part of Barishal district. Traders come from far and wide to buy fruits here. About 80% of the total guava produced in Bangladesh is produced in this region.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

Fishermen are seen floating on top of algae as they cast nets for a potential catch in the bright green waters of the Jamuna river. Sirajganj is also a popular place for locals to swim and bathe.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire

The joy of childhood in the rainy season, as children from a Chittagong village splash, play and enjoy the cooling river waters. According to UNICEF Bangladesh ranks 15 of 163 countries where children at most risk of climate change.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain/ZUMA Press Wire