The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting every part of human lives, including the physical world. The measures taken to control the spread of the virus and the slowdown of economic activities have significant effects on the environment. Therefore, this study intends to explore the positive and negative environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, by reviewing the available scientific literatures. This study indicates that, the pandemic situation significantly improves air quality in different cities across the world, reduces GHGs emission, lessens water pollution and noise, and reduces the pressure on the tourist destinations, which may assist with the restoration of the ecological system. In addition, there are also some negative consequences of COVID-19, such as increase of medical waste, haphazard use and disposal of disinfectants, mask, and gloves; and burden of untreated wastes continuously endangering the environment. It seems that, economic activities will return soon after the pandemic, and the situation might change. Hence, this study also outlines possible ways to achieve long-term environmental benefits. It is expected that the proper implementation of the proposed strategies might be helpful for the global environmental sustainability.

Riverbank erosion has both direct and indirect effects on human life and socio-economy of Bangladesh. The present study investigated the riverbank erosion hazard in study area, its impacts on local people and livelihood vulnerability due to land loss. To evaluate the riverbank erosion hazard in the study area, data have been collected from relevant scientific literatures, different government and non-government organizations, informal interview, questionnaire survey and Focused Group Discussion; and analyzed through different computer program and index. From the study, it was found that from 1973 to 2011, about 189.4 km2 lands was eroded from the left bank section and only 23.66 km2 was accreted with a net loss of 155 km2. Instead, right bank of the Padma River behaved in the opposite manner with 166.53 km2 erosion and 134.45 km2 accretions. Comparing to the right bank, left bank was more vulnerable to erosion which destroyed the permanent stable lands. However, the value of the newly accreted char land is very low compare to the main land. Thus this hazard creates a great loss in the local economy. Within the studied time range the monetary loss is about 1414.81 million BDT (17,422,937.16 $). Many wealthy farmers of the study area turn into marginal farmer and even landless due to the erosional hazard. Agricultural land becomes barren land by huge siltation and the cropping pattern has been changed significantly. In addition, the infrastructure and property losses are enormous. From the results of vulnerability index (IPCC-VI) it suggests that the most vulnerable areas are identified as Boyra (0.061), Kanchanpur (0.062), Lesragonj (0.064), Azimnagar (0.067), Sutalori (0.071) and Dhulsonra (0.076) because of more sensitivity and less adaptive capacity. On the other hand, Balara (− 0.017) and Balla (− 0.019) are comparatively least vulnerable comparing to the previous sites. As, riverbank erosion is one of the most hazardous disasters in the study area; so treating independent separate policies and program for the vulnerable areas might helpful to support the affected community.

Groundwater acts as a lifeline in the coastal regions to meet out the domestic, drinking, irrigational and industrial needs. To investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater and its suitability, twenty samples were collected from the shallow tubewells of study area having screen depth 21–54 m. The water quality assessment has been carried out by evaluating the physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, EC, TDS and major ions i.e., Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, HCO₃⁻. Results found that, the water is slightly alkaline and brackish in nature. The trends of cations and anions are Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ and Cl⁻ > HCO₃⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > NO₃⁻, respectively and Na–Cl–HCO₃ is the dominant groundwater type. The analyzed samples were also characterized with different indices, diagram and permissible limit i.e., electric conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride content (Cl), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), Kelley’s ratio (KR), Wilcox diagram and USSL diagram, and results showed that groundwater are not suitable for drinking and irrigational use. The factors responsible for the geochemical characterization were also attempted by using standard plot and it was found that mixing of seawater with entrapped water plays a significant role in the study area.