Masuda Begum is a woman in her twenties with two young children living in Satkhira’s Chuna Gram, a small village nestled on the outskirts of the mighty Sundarbans. Her husband is a day labourer and she is a fisherwoman, according to a report by Bonhishikha, a not-for-profit organisation that advocates for women’s rights, gender equality and raises awareness of gender-based violence.
Years of unfavourable agricultural practices and gradual sea level rise has resulted in the encroachment of salt water into the rivers and causing arable land to be left fallow. Masuda Begum and the other women in her village have adapted to the changes by engaging in fishing.
They wake up at 3:00am, and in complete darkness make their way to the banks of the river. They dive into the water, haul themselves onto small boats and make their way into the narrow canals in search of shrimp hatchlings. The work is dangerous — there are often snakes and other predators swimming in and around the river. Yet they persevere.
In one week, Masuda Begum can earn up to Tk 700-800. It’s a small but vital income source for her family. The fisherwomen work until almost daybreak. They return home before their husbands leave for work and children go to school. Then they start the housework: the cooking, cleaning, tending to the ducks, chicks, and goats.
As soon as the tide comes back in, it is time to go back to the river to catch shrimp hatchlings again. This continues late into the afternoon, but the work doesn’t end there — fresh water has to be bought, collected, and carried back home. The salinity in the rivers has contaminated the fresh water sources in the area. Every day, Masuda Begum and her neighbours carry large empty containers to fill with water at the water dispensaries.
If they do not do this — their family will have no drinking water for the day. The water tanks are located at least 20 minutes away. There are long queues and the young men in the area find it amusing to harass these desperate women. Sometimes, these miscreants will snatch the water containers from the women and throw away the water just to amuse themselves.
If fighting snakes, wild animals and perverse men on a daily basis isn’t punishment enough, these women are also fighting for their health. During menstruation, the women use pieces of scrap cloth which they wash and reuse. The water they use to clean is salt water because that is what is most accessible. Soon, due to the lack of drinking water and constant exposure to salt water, skin problems, stomach ailments and a host of gynaecological issues arise.
Most women try to overcome these issues themselves because doctors’ visits are expensive and if the issue is serious the women are afraid their husbands will abandon them and the children. So, they stay silent. Masuda Begum revealed that once she was in immense pain and so she secretly sold her duck to go see the doctor but to no avail: she could not afford the medicines she needed. Thus, there was nothing left to do but fervently pray that the issue resolves itself.