Livelihood status of fishers of the Padma river, Sreenagar, Munshiganj

Abstract

Data were collected by using well structured questionnaire. Age group of 31- 40 years was the highest (40%) in Bhagyakul whereas in Mandra the highest was 41 - 50 years (40%). The maximum fishermen (80%) were Hindu in Bhagyakul while higher percentage of Muslim fishermen (88) was found in Mandra. Education status of this community was very poor, 14% totally illiterate, 24% can sign only, 20% got primary education, and the rest 22% got secondary and higher secondary education, and no graduate. The majority (58%) of the respondents had Kacha, 18% had half-concrete, 10% had tinshed and only 2% had concrete house. About 46% of the fishermen got their health service from village doctor/Kobiraj, remaining people went to upazila health complex (18%), district hospital (14%), and MBBS doctor (20%), but a few people do not get any treatment (2%) due to lack of money. About 18% fishermen had Pakka toilet, 30% had semi-Pakka, 46% had Kacha toilet and rest of 12% had no sanitary facility. The annual income of fishermen in the study area varied from BDT 66,000 - 1,05,000. The fishermen received loan from different national and local NGOs for buying fishing gears and boats.

Bangladesh J. Zool. 44(1): 41-50, 2016