• by IPS Correspondents (paikgacha, bangladesh)
• Thursday, December 22, 1994
• Inter Press Service

PAIKGACHA, BANGLADESH, Dic 22 (IPS) - INDISCRIMINATE SHRIMP CULTIVATION IS RUINING ARABLE LAND AND IMPINGING ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS IN THIS SOUTH WESTERN COASTAL BELT OF BANGLADESH.

MORE THAN 300,000 ACRES OF THIS FERTILE BELT HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN OVER TO SHRIMP CULTIVATION THAT EARNS THE STATE EXCHEQUER A WHOPPING 123 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.

LATIKA RANI, 26, WHO CAME TO ZIRBUNIA VILLAGE IN THIS AREA AFTER HER MARRIAGE THREE YEARS AGO, SAYS LIFE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER SMALL FAMILY OF HUSBAND NARAYAN CHANDRA MANDAL AND INFANT SON.

"NOW WE CANNOT EVEN GROW ANY PLANTS HERE. THE HIGH SALINITY LEVEL IN THE WATER DUE TO SHRIMP CULTIVATION IS A KILLER FOR ALL EXISTING PLANTS, INCLUDING FRUIT TREES...WE CANNOT EVEN GROW ANY VEGETABLES FOR OUR OWN NOURISHMENT LET ALONE BUSINESS," SHE SAYS.

THE SALINITY IS ALSO SEEPING INTO THE DRINKING WATER, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONSUME, SAYS LATIKA

ZIRBUNIA AND THE TWO ADJOINING VILLAGES OF DELUTI AND KATBUNIA COME WITHIN THE AREA OF POLDER 21, ONE OF THE EMBANKMENTS ON THE VADRA RIVER. SHRIMP FARMERS HAVE CONVERTED MOST OF POLDER 21, THAT ORIGINALLY COMPRISED PADDY FIELDS INTO "GHERS" OR WATER BODIES FOR RAISING SHRIMPS.

THOUGH A GOVERNMENT REGULATION EXISTS SAYING 85 PERCENT OF THE LANDOWNERS, IN THIS CASE THE LOCAL PEOPLE, HAVE TO GIVE THEIR CONSENT BEFORE A GHER CAN BE BUILT, IN PRACTICE THIS IS RARELY DONE.

MOST OF THE GHER OWNERS ARE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE LIVING IN FAR AWAY CITIES OR THE CAPITAL, DHAKA. THE HANDFUL WHO DO RESIDE IN THE VICINITY ARE OLD FEUDAL LANDLORDS WHO HAVE A HOLD OVER THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

ALL THE GHER OWNERS HAVE A STRONG CONTINGENT OF ARMED GUARDS FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA KEEPING A WATCH OVER THE FARMS AND INTIMIDATING THE 700 LOCAL FAMILIES.

SAYS ABDUL MAJID, A LOCAL FARMER, "THE GHER WORKERS ARE ARMED WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF WEAPONS AND ARE WORSE THAN WAR CRIMINALS. THEIR VIOLENCE ON THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND OUR WOMEN IS HORRIFYING."

ONE OF THE SO-CALLED SECURITY GUARDS IS THE SIX FEET TALL, STURDY SHEIKH WAHED WHO LOOKS LIKE A WRESTLER IN HIS RED SHORTS. HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON ONE HARUNUR RASHID'S 100 ACRE GHER FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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