The purpose of this research is to investigate the perception of local people and their gender-based adaptation to natural and human-made disasters in Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira District, Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh. The study perceives that disasters are not only natural but also human-made. Due to climate change, sea level rise and water salinity have increased in coastal areas of Bangladesh including Satkhira district in recent decades. In particular, vast areas of Satkhira district are being affected by various misdeeds of influential shrimp farmers. As a result, natural disasters and human activities have jointly destroyed not only crop diversity, aquatic animal diversity and biodiversity, but also human occupational diversity, endangering human life in the region. In such contexts, the research has applied mixed methods to understand gender-based perceptions and adaptations to human and natural disasters. Men and women have different life experiences due to their roles and therefore their vulnerability and adaptation to disasters are also different. The results of the pilot study indicate that some people are confused about the causes of their disastrous situations and the adaptation programs of government agencies and NGOs. Therefore, the study suggests the programs to be gender sensitive based on local culture.
