**1. Introduction**

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries due to climate change. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2017, Bangladesh ranked sixth as the most vulnerable country and as the worst affected country by extreme weather. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as cyclone, storm surge, flood, etc. The long-term impacts of climate change are temperature rise due to global warming, sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, drought, heat waves, cold waves, etc. The coastal belt of Bangladesh is severely impacted by salinity intrusion. In Bangladesh, salinity affected 83.3 million hectares of land in 1973 which increased to 102 million hectares in 2000. In 2009, the amount has increased to 105.6 million hectares. Over the last 35 years, salinity has increased to 26% within the country [1].

Bangladesh has a geographically and hydrologically disadvantaged setting and is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and other related natural hazards, with major impacts on women, children, and food and energy securities [6]. All these multiple vulnerabilities and climate change impacts are enhancing poverty, migration, and inequality in the country [7]. The government of Bangladesh has been able to identify different eco-zones which are vulnerable to climate change in its own distinct ways. These zones include southwest and central coast of Bangladesh including Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barguna, Patuakhali, and Bhola, which are the major affected coastal districts in the country.

It may as well be noted that IPCC Fourth and Fifth Assessment Report identified a number of climate-sensitive diseases which are waterborne (e.g., diarrhea and cholera). The Government of Bangladesh has been trying through its initiatives and own national funds to ensure that the vulnerable, socially excluded, disadvantaged households are supported with proper water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. A number of disasters including flood, cyclone, river bank erosion, waterlogging, landslide, etc. have already hit the country in the past and posed themselves as critical disasters affecting the country's stability in the face of climate change. These disasters affect the entire environmental settings, infrastructure, and natural resource base which are essential for local livelihoods. Cyclone and storm surge, salinity intrusion, coastal flooding, waterlogging, variation in temperature, and rainfall jeopardize coastal livelihoods [8]. The intrusion of excess salinity has pushed the people living in the coastal zones to several dilemmas [9]. However, coastal communities have emerged with their local-level adaptation techniques, being able to set example across the world to "live with salt."

The following chapter summarizes the scenario of climate change induced salinity intrusion and impacts on livelihood communities. It also presents some insights from a research project conducted by Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS) which conducted a case study to understand coastal salinity in Bangladesh. As such, the chapter will provide a narrative on the current problems, present initiatives by the community to address the salinity challenges and way forward.
