Climate change in Bangladesh

Tahmima Anam begins her journey on the Jamuna river to the chars (river islands of silt) in Chouhali Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

A boat sails on the river in Bangladesh. Boats provide the main source of transport between the chars Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

River banks eroded by monsoon floodwater. In the next 50 years, 17% of Bangladesh’s landmass is sure to go underwater, causing more than 30 million people to become homeless Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

A home built with help from the Department for International Development (DfID) Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Tahmima Anam with her two sisters Joneka and Hosne Ara Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Joneka tells Tahmima of her struggles in such an inhospitable climate and how she managed to survive in the chars Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Joneka in her newly built home. She has a new tin roof and now rainwater cannot leak into her house Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Joneka’s sister Hosne Ara tells Tahmima how she was able to manage the family with aid after her husband died Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

After the base of her house was raised above floodwater levels with the help of DfID, Joneka was able to grow green vegetables in her yard Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Hosne Ara’s sister-in-law tends to the plants in her garden Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Women cook and do housework in the yard; they haven't been able to build a kitchen yet Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Selina with her son. With help from DfID she was able to buy a cow and build her home Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Rina takes the cow back home in the afternoon. She plans to sell it during Eid after a year and expects to buy a bull next year Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

A local girl from Chouhali, in the Sirajgonj district of Bangladesh, on her way to school through a paddy field Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Tahmima Anam listens to a local student singing a song. The song says, 'When I die, at least then I expect you to come and touch my grave' Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Sona Chand, 75, of Chouhali, Sirajgonj. His house has been damaged by the Jamuna river on 17 separate occasions in past 40 years Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID

Local boys and girls walk through knee-deep water, a common scene during the monsoon season in chars Photograph: Hassan Bipul/DFID