Double blow for coastal fishers
Fishing families in Barishal division are passing hard times. The devastation caused by cyclone Yaas -- that too in the off-season for fishing -- is pushing them to the brink.
This can be particularly seen in Patharghata Sadar Union of Barguna's Patharghata upazila. Most of the 20,000 people of this union are engaged in hilsa fishing, which remains halted since the 65-day ban from May 20.
"After the cyclone hit, our union and those surrounding ours were submerged under three to five feet of water," said Alamgir Majhi, a resident of the union's Padma village. "Until the water cleared, we couldn't eat any cooked food for two to three days."
"I managed to get 70kg of the district administration's relief rice. This will hopefully last for two months," he added. "But those who haven't got the relief are in even greater misery. Due to the ban, they can't even go to the river and fish their way out."
Pakhi Begum, Alamgir's wife, said they could not get their boat down to the river for fear of the coastguard.
"We can't live just with the help we're given. We can't go down to the river as well. We don't even have the money to repair our homes," she said.
According to Barishal Divisional Fisheries Department, not only Barguna, but the lower areas of Bhola and Patuakhali have been flooded too, leaving the fisher families helpless.
Alauddin Mia of Bhola's Char Fasson upazila said at least a hundred families in their village had their houses swept away by the cyclone.
Char Kukri Mukri Union Parishad Chairperson Hashem Mahajan said their union got submerged under six feet of water. Many have lost their fishing gears, including nets, and are now living in distress. The situation is similar across different chars of Monpura upazila.
Mostafa Golam Kabir, chairperson of Patharghata upazila, said, "At least half a lakh anglers of the upazila are currently suffering. Houses of at least 500 fisher families have collapsed. More than a thousand homes have been partially damaged too."
"More than a thousand acres of cultivating land have been submerged and a total of 50,000 anglers are in crisis," he added.
Contacted, Anisur Rahman Talukder, Barishal divisional fisheries officer, said fisher families in the division have lost around Tk 95 crore due to the cyclone. "If we can get this money allocated, we can rehabilitate the sector," he said.
According to local anglers, those who have their name on the VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) list are eligible to get 70kg rice, but there are many whose names are not on the list.
According to fisheries office sources, out of the 3,63,000 anglers in the division, around 1,46,000 will get their VGF cards soon.
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