Early civilization was built around the river. In the cycle of time, whose name is Dhaka! Because of easy communication with other parts of the country by river route, the capital of Bangla region was built here. Since the beginning of human settlement, the river has been the only and main carrier of people's livelihood in Dhaka. In addition to fishing by throwing nets in the river, boating, growing crops in the surrounding land, all types of work were available here.
The rivers of Dhaka are going to disappear with the passage of time due to encroachment, exploitation and pollution. Due to the disappearance of the river, the professional people who lived around the river are disappearing. Especially during the dry season, thousands of working people along the river became unemployed due to the reduction of river water. They migrated to earn a living.
According to the data of National River Commission and River and Delta Research, there were 98 rivers in Dhaka. In Rampura, Meradia, Demra, Uttara, Basila, Savar, Tongi, Keraniganj, Ashulia, Birulia, Kodda areas of Dhaka there were thousands of fishermen, sailors and farmer families. 5 big and small rivers have disappeared from Dhaka. More than 50,000 fishermen become unemployed during the dry season. Many migrated again and went to other parts of the country to fish in the rivers.
There lived fishermen in Dasherkandi area of Khilgaon in the capital. More than 60 families here made a living by fishing and boating in the Balu river. They can't catch fish anymore due to soil filling, pollution, farms. Earlier, horn, magur, hilsa, where fish were available. Now there is no fish available except poonti and tilapia. When the water dries up during the dry season, there are no fish. For 6-8 months of the year, fishermen and boatmen change their profession and do other work.
During the dry season, besides the livelihood crisis of people in the fishing village and riverside villages around Dhaka, the crisis of fresh water and sanitation is intensified. As the health protection system is fragile, various water-borne diseases are the daily companion of these people.
Abdul Gani of Dasherkandi fishing village told Barta24.com that fish are no longer available in the polluted water. The river has been filled with project sand. Fishermen have given up fishing. Once upon a time, people used to bathe, cook and drink water from rivers and canals; there was no tube well in the village then. It's all closed now.
Bangshi-Dhaleswari river estuary can be seen in the Namabazar area of Savar. About 65 fishermen families live at the foot of Selo Ghat of Bangshi river. As winter comes, more than 40 families have changed their profession and are doing other work. 10 families have shifted and spread across different parts of the country, three more families are preparing. Fishermen catch fish here for three months during the monsoon season. Then it goes to other rivers of the country including Jamuna and Meghna.
Manik Mia, a resident of Selo Ghat area, told Barta24.com that we can fish here for three months a year. Then there is good income. Then when the water dries up, we are helpless. I am building this big boat, I will go to Jamuna. If money is not sent from there, the family will not eat. We can't do anything except fishing. During the peak season, 50-65 families of our village used to catch fish, now there are 10-12. The rest work against people, carrier boys in the market.
Manik Mia said, river water cannot be given in the mouth during the dry season. If you take a bath, your body itches - you get disease, if you crack the tube well, dirty water comes out. The public representatives here took our voter ID card when we voted but never gave us a single thread.
Moktar Hossain Saudagar, who is involved in the profession of selling fish, has a look of helplessness on his face. He said, many types of fish are available here during the monsoon season. Boal, Aire, Chital - these fish are also delicious to eat. When the water dries up, there are no more fish. If you have to bring fish from other places and sell it in the market, then the price is also high. During the dry season, the smell of river water becomes a liability for people. If we don't get fish, we have to sit unemployed.
For almost 55 years, Shamsuddin Majhi ran a boat on Bangshi river. He is the last boatman of his generation to ply in the river. Shamsuddin Majhi told Barta24.com that the mill-factory water has been mixed with the river and wasted. Now the water smells, fish are not available. Our movement is suffering. I have sent one of my sons abroad. The river is dying—we have no future here.
Mohammad Ejaz, chairman of River and Delta Research, told Barta24.com that there are 47 villages in Turag Bank alone, all of whom are now unemployed. It has a population of more than fifty thousand. These fishermen and boatmen around Dhaka become unemployed or migrate to other places.