A new study warns that rapid land use changes in the Halda River Basin, driven by population pressure and urban expansion, are significantly threatening the region’s ecosystem and local livelihoods.
The research, titled “Population Dynamics and Land Use Changes: A Case Study of Halda River Basin, Bangladesh,” was conducted by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahbub Murshed of the Geography and Environmental Studies Department at Chittagong University. It was published in the June 2025 edition of the Jahangirnagar University Environmental Bulletin.
The study focused on three upazilas—Hathazari, Raozan, and Fatikchhari—in Chattogram District, examining land use and demographic changes in the Halda River Basin from 2001 to 2022.
The Halda River holds significant ecological and economic importance as Bangladesh’s only natural breeding ground in the Chittagong region for Indian major carps such as ruhi, katla, and mrigal. It supports traditional fish fry collection and contributes to local livelihoods.
Utilizing satellite imagery from Landsat and GIS analysis, the study categorized land into five types: agricultural land, forest, built-up areas, wetlands, and water bodies.
The research revealed a decline in agricultural land in the basin from 55.69 percent in 2001 to 43.87 percent in 2022. Forest cover also decreased from 32.45 percent to 24.27 percent during the same period. Conversely, built-up areas saw a dramatic increase, rising from 4.93 percent to 23.47 percent over 21 years. Wetland and water body areas experienced slight declines, with wetlands shrinking from 6.93 percent to 6.52 percent and water bodies decreasing from 2.00 percent to 1.87 percent.
According to data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics used in the study, the population in the three upazilas grew from 891,409 in 2001 to 1,296,387 in 2022. The researcher attributes this population increase to heightened demand for housing, transportation, and local infrastructure, leading to the conversion of forests and agricultural land into built-up areas.
“Population growth in the basin is reshaping land use patterns,” stated Prof. Murshed. “As the need for settlements and infrastructure grows, land used for agriculture and forest cover decreases.”
While the study did not directly assess water quality or biological factors, it indicates environmental stress due to the loss of vegetative land and the expansion of built areas, particularly near rivers and roads. This trend could alter the ecological character of the basin, which is intrinsically linked to the river’s fish spawning functions and local livelihoods dependent on natural resources.
Many communities in the basin rely on farming and seasonal fish fry collection for their income. The loss of agricultural land may impact farming-related jobs, and any disturbance to the river system could affect fishing activities. “The changing land cover has consequences for jobs, particularly in agriculture and fisheries,” Murshed explained.
The study cautions that further loss of land for farming or ecological use could reduce livelihood options for rural communities, though it did not provide specific employment statistics. The analysis also showed that land transformation is most pronounced near transport corridors and riverbanks—areas crucial for both economic and ecological activity.
To address these changes, Dr. Murshed suggested planning measures such as “introducing a zoning system to protect farmland and forests, and promoting ecological restoration in degraded areas. Furthermore, access to the forests surrounding the Halda River should be strictly limited, with only security personnel allowed entry to ensure the protection of sensitive ecosystems.”
The study also emphasized the importance of integrating population trends into regional and environmental planning processes. “Balanced development needs to connect land use planning with population trends and ecological needs,” Prof. Murshed concluded.
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