For as long as she could remember, Shefali Akter’s life had been inseparable from the rivers of coastal Bangladesh. Born into the boat-dwelling Vedic community in the southern district of Patuakhali, her days were spent casting nets and surviving storms. “When my father passed away, I was only three years old. My mother raised me alone, in poverty so deep that we sometimes went days with barely any food,” she recalled softly.
On Chor Montaz — an isolated char/island edged by shifting riverbanks and open sea — survival has never been easy. For women like Shefali, the odds are even harder. The island’s remoteness means basic services are scarce. Most families live without secure livelihoods, health facilities, or reliable schooling. And now, climate change is making things worse.
The once-generous rivers have become unpredictable. Rising tides, salinity intrusion, and frequent cyclones have robbed families of their livelihoods, flooded their homes, and deepened the struggle for daily survival. “Some nights, we stayed awake all night holding our boat ropes, afraid the wind would flip us into the water,” Shefali said.
When Shefali and her family were finally given a small house by the local government on Chor Montaz, it felt like the ground had steadied beneath her feet — literally. But even on land, opportunities were scarce. Her husband and son continued to fish, despite poor yields, simply because they had no other option.
Through the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) project — a multi-donor collaborative effort of UNDP, the Government of Bangladesh, UNCDF, Sweden, and Denmark — women like Shefali and others are working to change this reality. With a focus on the most climate-vulnerable, they are provided training and financial support under the project’s Climate Adaptive Livelihood Options (CALO) and Community Resilient Fund (CRF).
Shefali was one of over 1,200 women in the area reached by the initiative. Her group received BDT 30,000 (USD 247) in CRF support. With just BDT 4,000 (USD 33) of that, she started a shop beside her new home — building it herself with wood, tin, and sheer determination. “It was the push we needed,” she smiled. “I started with selling fishing nets, that is my expertise. Then I bought a few goods — oil, soap, matches — and slowly added more. By the grace of Almighty, the sales grew, and so did our hope.”
Her shop, once a small plank stall, now earns more than she imagined. She and her peers are planning to scale up their group activities, making collective purchases and savings more effective. “We believe working within our group association will allow us to benefit more,” she said.
For Shefali, the shop became more than a livelihood — it was an anchor in the storm. Her children now go to school regularly. She eats three meals a day. And above all, she has reclaimed agency over her life.
“Before, every day was about surviving. Now I wake up thinking how to grow, how to give my daughter the education I never had,” she said.
While the tides of climate change still threaten Chor Montaz, Shefali is no longer at its mercy. With courage in her heart, she is building resilience — for herself and her community.
“I know the river may rise or land may slide. But this time, I will be ready,” she said firmly.
“Before, every day was about surviving. Now I wake up thinking how to grow.” Shefali Akter, LoGIC Project Beneficiary