Tag: fishing

Bishkhali River: A Vital Lifeline for Local Ecosystems

July 20, 2025 Explore the World 0Comments 65Views 0Likes
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The river Bishkhali flows through the southernmost district of Bangladesh, Barguna. There are prosperous settlements on both banks around this river. Therefore, this river is significant in this region.

The Bishkhali River is mainly a river of Jhalokati and Barguna districts in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. The length of the river is 105 kilometers, the average width is 760 meters, and the nature of the river is serpentine.

The Bishkhali River originates from the Sugandha River, flowing in the Gabkhan Dhansiri Union area of Jhalokati district. Then the watercourse of this river crosses Rajapur, Kanthalia, and Betagi upazilas of Barguna and flows to Patharghata Union of Patharghata upazila of Barguna district and falls into the Bay of Bengal. The downstream side of the river is wider than the upstream side. Water flow is observed in the river throughout the year, and many small and large vessels ply. However, during the rainy season, the water flow in the river increases more than usual. At that time, the riverbanks were flooded with floodwater. The river is affected by the influence of the tides.

At one time, the Bishkhali River was a very fast-flowing river. Now it is less fast-flowing. The average width of the first 30 km of its course is 1 km. The average width of the next 66 km of this river is about 2 km. Its average depth is 16 meters. The water of the Madhumati and Kacha rivers flows into the Bishkhali River through the Kaukhali and Gabkhan canals. Tidal currents are active in this river. As it meets the sea, the water remains quite salty for half of the length of the river. The two tributaries of Bishkhali are Khagdon river and Badankhali Canal.

Bishkhali is prone to erosion, and due to its erosion, several areas, including Barguna Sadar, Patharghata, and Betagi, are being affected. The char formation process is active in various parts of the river. Some chars are inhabited and cultivated.

The harsh reality of fishermen in Bangladesh and their struggle for survival

April 4, 2025 People & Cultures 0Comments 180Views 0Likes
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Fishing by fishermen in the sea of ​​Bangladesh is a wonder. Seeing them fishing seems like a depiction of a story heard from history.

I was in the Nidra area of ​​​​the seashore of Taltoli upazila of Barguna district. Every day, the fishermen here go fishing in the sea, calculating the tides. They sometimes fish alone or in groups during the day or at night.

Fishing in the sea is hazardous. Yet fisherman catches fish for their livelihood. Most of the fishermen who fish in the sea live in coastal areas. Due to their poor financial condition, they live in houses made of tin, wood or straw. Cyclones occur in the Bay of Bengal almost every year. Moreover, they are all affected by various storms, clouds, and excessive tides. Many of the fishermen still live outside the embankment. Due to this, the damage would be more significant if any natural disaster occurred.

The livelihood of fishermen in coastal areas changes greatly depending on the season. During the rainy season, they fish in the sea with storm clouds on their heads. At this time, they get more fish. However, during the monsoon, many houses in the coastal areas are flooded due to rising water levels. So sometimes they have to look for a place to rest elsewhere during this time.

In winter, the picture here is the opposite. As the water level decreases, some fishermen build temporary houses on the seashore. They dry fish there. Fish traders come from different districts for this purpose. They often develop or buy trawlers and let the fishermen catch fish in the sea. Then, they build houses on the seashore and dry the fish in the sun in front. Many fishermen make a profit by selling dried fish in the market. In addition, fishermen also catch fish individually. They see fresh fish and sell them in the local market. And those who go to the sea with big trawlers catch fish in groups and sell them in the market to earn money.