Samil Islam - leader and his community in flood-prone area of Bangladesh
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Authors
Elizabeth Dunn
Issue Date
2015-08
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Agriculture
Alternative Title
Abstract
Samil Islam is 38 and Community Leader for the village of Chilmari. He has been the leader for the past 5 years. “About 80% of the community are fisherman and some trade in fishing. The other 20% do small business.” There are two weekly markets that the community can take items to for sale. People buy and sell things that they have made. “These markets are the lifeline of the community.” When asked about his duties, he answered “I have to distribute things to the poor members of the community.” The Bangladeshi government gives a very small amount of money per month (around 200 taka) for people in “real need”. In the area, there is a lot of labour for jute farming. There are also many small traders who sell popped rice, betel leaf and their labour. He explained that there are 3 main problems within the community of 2,000 households. These are: Health service. There is little health assistance available and the members know very little about nutrition and well-being. Education. Housing. When asked about his own life, he told us that he has a ‘semi-concrete house and that he is “a man of this soil,” meaning that he was born into the community. “I’ve had to move three times” due to the flooding. “I do business, jute trading and winter crops, wheat etc.” When asked about the future, he said “I am optimistic.” “The government has started a project to improve the embankments. The government will also build a bridge.” “If we could provide fishing nets for fishermen, loans to small traders and livestock, seasonal hunger could be reduced.”