Field Report on Satkhira and Adjacent Area

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FIELD REPORT on SATKHIRA AND ADJACENT AREA

SUBMITTED BY

K. M. Ferdous Mahmud (568)

Md. Sohel Rana (573)

Md. Taufick Imam (574)

Mohammad Rubaiat Islam (581)

Md. Nor Ali (585)

SUBMISSION ON 11th March, 2012

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Topic Page No

PHYSIOGRAPHY 1

NATURAL RESOURCES 2

FOREST RESOURCE 2

WATER RESOURCE 5

LAND RESOURCE 7

FOOD RESOURCE 9

ENERGY RESOURCE 10

MINERAL RESOURCE 10

BIODIVERSITY 12

FLORA 12

FAUNA 18

ECOSYSTEM AND ITS SERVICE 20

POLLUTION 23

SOCIAL ASPECTS 26

COMMUNITY AND KEY COMMUNITY 27

POVERTY 29

SANITATION 30

EDUCATION 31

DRINKING WATER SUPPLY 33

CONCLUSION 34

APPENDIX - 1 ( SALINITY READING) i

APPENDIX – 2 (QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY) ii

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The study area lies in the South-western part of Bangladesh which is a part of the Khulna Division.

Geologically this area is part of the overall Quaternary geology of the Bengal Basin. Sediments from early

Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems were deposited over the northern and eastern parts of the

basin during Pleistocene period. For this reason, the study area represents a tidal and fluvial delta

formation.

Sediments of the area are of mainly silt and clay in nature. Only a very small portion of land represents

sandy soil.

Figure 1: - Fine silt and clay sediment

Land morphology is mainly plain and there is no depressed or uplifted land types were observed.

Physiography of the adjacent area can be easily visualized by the following figures. This photograph was

taken near Barakupot area.

Figure 2: - Deltaic plain land of the study area

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Shyamnagar Upazila is full of many significant amounts of resources. These resources are used in various

ways for the growth and development of our society in various ways. The Natural resources of different

areas of Shyamnagar Upazila differ with each other. The areas under study were Shyamnagar union,

Padma Pukur union, Gabura union, Buri Goalini union and Munshiganj union. Different resources of these

unions can be categorized as followes: -

Forest Resource

Water Resource

Land Resource

Food Resource

Energy Resource

Mineral Resource

FOREST RESOURCE: -

Figure 3: - Forest resource of the study area

As the forest is the important portion of every area, they provide different resources to the local

inhabitants. Both Sundarban and different social forest are utilized in different ways by the local people

of different union. A comparison is made among the utilization pattern of forest resource in different

unions.

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Union Villages Utilization pattern

Shyamnagar

Sadar

The effect of salinity is not so intense. The social forests are

dominating.

Provide oxygen.

Provide fruits to people.

Trees and shrubs used as fuel wood.

Building material for construction and furniture.

Medicinal products.

Gums and resins.

Shyamnagar

Nawabeki

The amount of forest is moderate, mainly social forest.


Used as fuel wood.

Building huts and houses.

Provide oxygen.

Grass for grazing.

Medicinal products processed into drugs.

Barakupot

Mainly social forest. Heterogeneous mixture of plants is

observed.

Grass for grazing and small feeding livestock.

Small timber for building huts and houses.

Provide oxygen.

Used as fuel wood.

Medicinal plants.


Padma Pukur Pakhimara

Relatively small amount of forest present.


Firewood.

Construction and furniture.

Provide oxygen.

Gabura

Maddham

Kalishabunia

Trees are very rare to found. Most of them are destroyed in Aila.

Mangrove forest present.


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Firewood.

Construction purpose.

Provide oxygen.

Chockbara

Small amount is observed, still developing. Mangrove forest

observed.


Firewood.

Construction purpose.

Dumuria

Developing Social forest and Mangrove forest.


Firewood

Used for construction purpose.

Buri Goalini Nildumur

Well-developed social forest and mangrove forest were observed.

Provide oxygen.


Trees and shrubs used as fuel wood.

Building material for construction and furniture.

Medicinal products.

Gums and resins.

Munshiganj Munshiganj

Sadar

Social forest is present as well as Mangrove forest.


Used as fuel wood.

Building huts and houses.

Provide oxygen.

Grass for grazing.

Medicinal products processed into drugs.

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WATER RESOURCE: -

Figure 4: - Water resource of the study area

Water resource is an important resource of the area. Water of this area is used in different ways for

making our life easy and more comfortable. The local people use a huge volume of water in different

ways. Cultivation of fish is the historical form of the use of water resource in the area. But recently the

water use pattern has been changed a lot. The utilization pattern of water resources of different study

areas are compared and given in order of importance bellow: -


Shyamnagar

Shyamnagar Sader

Washing and cleaning

Drinking purpose

Fish culture

Rain water harvesting

Nawabeki

Used for drinking purpose

Fish culture



Irrigation

Barakupot


Costal Aquaculture

Fish culture

Irrigation

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Culture of Crabs, Shrimp, Chiring etc.

Transportation medium

Drinking purpose

Fish culture

River fishing

Irrigation

Gabura

Maddham Kalishabunia

Crab and Shrimp culture




River fishing

Chockbara

Fish, Crab and Shrimp culture

River fishing



Dumuria

Irrigation


Drinking purpose

Fish culture

River fishing



Fish culture



Irrigation



Crab and Shrimp culture

Fish culture


Irrigation

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LAND RESOURCE: -

Figure 5: - Land resource of the study area

Landforms formed from the huge amount of alluvial sediments play important role in the development of

the local social and economic conditions. This area is basically agricultural and Aqua cultural land. Some

of them are used for construction medium. The overall utilization patterns are compared in the following

table: -


Shyamnagar

Shyamnagar Sader

House construction

Commercial land utilization

Brick production

Roads and communication

Fish culture land

Nawabeki

Agricultural land

Aqua cultural land

Sand extraction

House construction


Brick production


Barakupot

Aqua cultural land

Agricultural land

House construction

Brick production


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Aqua cultural land

House construction


Agricultural land

Gabura


Aqua cultural land

House construction


Construction medium

Chockbara

House construction

Aqua cultural land


Construction medium

Dumuria

Agricultural land

House construction

Aqua cultural land


Fish culture land


House construction



Fish culture land


House construction


Brick production


Fish culture land

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FOOD RESOURCE: -

Figure 6: - Food resource

This area provides us with valuable food resources from various sources. Among these sources, forest,

agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery are important. The main food resources of the overall area are

as follows: -

Union Villages Major food Resources

Shyamnagar

Shyamnagar Sader Rice, Hen, Pigeon, Goat, Cow, Vegetables, Crab,

Shrimp, Fruits etc.

Nawabeki Goat, Cow, Ram, Crab, Shrimp, Fruits, Rice,

Vegetables, etc.

Barakupot Cow, Ram, Goat, Crab, Shrimp, Fruits, Rice,

Vegetables, etc.

Padma Pukur Pakhimara Crab, Shrimp, Other river fishes, Fruits, Cow,

Vegetables etc.

Gabura


Crab, Shrimp, Chiring, Other river fishes, Goat, Cow,

Ram, Fruits etc.

Chockbara

Crab, Shrimp, Chiring, Other river fishes, Goat, Cow,

Ram, Vegetables etc.

Dumuria

Rice, Hen, Pigeon, Goat, Cow, Vegetables, Crab,

Shrimp, Fruits etc.

Buri Goalini Nildumur Goat, Cow, Vegetables, Rice, Hen, Pigeon etc.

Munshiganj Munshiganj Rice, Hen, Pigeon, Goat, Cow, Vegetables, Crab,

Shrimp, Fruits etc.

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ENERGY RESOURCE: -

Figure 7: - Energy resource of the study area

The area is highly potential in terms of energy resource. A large number of people are directly and

indirectly dependent of the collection of fuel wood and their business. By this way, they earn a significant

amount of money. The utilization of solar energy is also significant.

Union Utilization pattern

Shyamnagar Mainly Electricity and also includes Fuel wood, Solar energy, Petroleum

products.

Padma Pukur Mainly Solar energy and also includes Fuel wood, Petroleum products, coal

etc.

Gabura Mainly Solar energy and also includes Fuel wood, coal, Petroleum products

etc.

Buri Goalini Mainly Electricity and also includes Fuel wood, Solar energy, Petroleum

products.

Munshiganj Mainly Electricity and also includes Fuel wood, Solar energy, Petroleum

products, coal etc.

MINERAL RESOURCE: -

The presence and extraction of mineral resource is very limited in the Shyamnagar area. There is hardly

any mineral resource to be found in the area. The presences of petroleum ad crude hydrocarbons are yet

not discovered. This is mainly because of the nature of the sedimentation and stratigraphic succession

pattern. This area is an example of recent alluvial sedimentation and its sedimentation stage is not

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matured yet. That is why the presence of any hydrocarbon or petroleum resource is not discovered so

far.

Figure 8: - Mineral resources of the area under study

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FLORA: -

Figure 9: - Some floral species of the area

Both Mangrove and non-mangrove vegetation are observed. Major plant species found in this area are as

follows: -

Union Major Types of Plants

Local name Scientific name

Shyamnagar

Mango Mangifera indica

Date palm( Khejur) Phoenix dactylifera

Sil Koroi Albizia lucida

Sofeda Eucalyptus spp.

Sun flower Helianthus annuus

Blackberry Syzygium cumini

Jackfruite Artocarpous heterophyllus

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Simul Bombax ceiba

Raintry kory Samanea saman

Kadam Anthrocephalus chinensis

Mahagani Swietenia mahagoni

Barai Zizyphys manuritiana

Coconut Cocos nucifera

Paddy Oryza sativa

Palm Borassus fiabillifer

Padma Pukur


Gewa E agallocha

Goran Ceriops decandra

Keora Sonneratia apetala

Passur Xylocarpus mekongensis

Dhundul X. granatum



Tamarind Tree (Tentul) Diploglottis cunninghamii

Cactus Blossfeldia liliputiana

Gabura



Paddy Oryza sativa


Gewa E agallocha



Brinjal Solanum melongena

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Bean Phaseolus vulgaris

Raintry koroi Samanea saman

Babla Alstonia nilotica

Nim Azadirachta indica


Buri Goalini



Joba Habiscus rosa sinensis


Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus

Banana Lagerstroemia_speciosa


Paddy Oryza sativa


Gewa E agallocha




Dhundul Xylocarpus granatum




Munshiganj

Gewa E agallocha




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Dhundul X. granatum

Paddy Oryza sativa







Paddy Oryza sativa

Shyamnagar



Sil Koroi Albizia lucida

Sofeda Eucalyptus spp.

Sun flower Hibiscus spp.



Simul Bombax ceiba

Raintry kory Samanea saman

Kadam Anthrocephalus chinensis




Paddy Oryza sativa


Padma Pukur Palm Borassus fiabillifer

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Gewa E agallocha




Dhundul X. granatum



Tentul Sonneratia spp.


Gabura



Paddy Oryza sativa


Gewa E agallocha



Brinjal Solanum melongena

Bean Phaseolus vulgaris

Raintry koroi Samanea saman

Nim


Buri Goalini



Joba Habiscus rosa sinensis


Eucalyptus Eucalyptus agallocha

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Banana


Paddy Oryza sativa


Gewa E agallocha




Dhundul X. granatum




Munshiganj

Gewa E agallocha





Dhundul X. granatum

Paddy Oryza sativa







Paddy Oryza sativa

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FAUNA: -

Figure 10: - Major faunal species of the area

Among various household and wild animal species, these followings are significant-

Union Major Types of Plants

Local name Local name Local name

Shyamnagar

Cow Dog King fisher

Hen Crow Mosquito

Goat Pegion Salik

Ram Swan Spider

Duck Snail Crab

Squirrel Monkey Butterfly

Cat Rat Fly

Snake Nilotica Chorwi

Heron Shrimp Silver carp

Grass carp Kholshe Punti

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Padma Pukur

Duck Snail Crab

Squirrel Swan Butterfly

Cat Rat Nilotica

Snake King fisher Shrimp

Heron Mosquito Butterfly

Crab Hen Crow

Ram Goat Pegion

Duck Chiring Butterfly

Gabura

Crab Shrimp Snail

Snake King fisher Cat

Heron Mosquito Snake

Goat Crow Ram

Butterfly Dog Duck

Swan Spider Chiring

Rat Grasshopper King fisher

Buri Goalini

Ram Cow Dog

Swan Hen Crow

Goat Pegion Salik

Cat Snake Crow

Nilotica Silver carp Kholshe

Shrimp Grass carp Punti

Kholshe Bee Fly

Deer Butterfly Mosquito

Munshiganj

Monkey Cow Duck

Silver carp Hen Squirrel

Punti Goat Cat

Kholshe Butterfly Snake

Shrimp Bee Duck

Deer Ram King fisher

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Organisms and environment are two non-separable factors. Organisms interact with each other and Also with the physical conditions that are present in their habitats. "The organisms and the physical Features of the habitat form an ecological complex or more briefly an ecosystem."

MAJOR TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS OF THE AREA:

Mainly two types of ecosystems were found in the area.

Aquatic ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem

Aquatic Ecosystem:

Two types of aquatic ecosystems were observed.

Fresh water ecosystem

Saline water ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem:

We found two types of terrestrial ecosystem.

Crop vegetation

Social forest

Ecosystem

Aquatic

Fresh water

Saline water

Terrestrial

Crop vegetation

Social forest

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Union Ecosystem Services Sh

yam

nag

ar

Terrestrial

Ecosystem

Crop

Vegetation

Provide food for local people

Provide food for household animals

Provide food & shelter for birds and insects

Social forest

Provide huge amount of Oxygen

Protects the coastal area from the destruction of

natural hazards

Provide firewood as a source of energy

Aquatic

Ecosystem

Fresh water

Ecosystem

Provide habitat for fresh water fish species

Provide food for fish and other aquatic organisms

Many fresh water fish species are cultivated


Used for irrigation purpose

Saline water

Ecosystem

Habitat for many halophytic plant species

Habitat for many fish and aquatic organism that

requires saline environment for their growth and

development

Great contribution in coastal aquaculture or shrimp

culture

This ecosystem can also be used for crab culture

Pad

ma

Pu

kur

Terrestrial

Ecosystem

Crop

Vegetation




Social forest



natural hazards


Aquatic

Ecosystem

Fresh water

Ecosystem




Saline water

Ecosystem




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development

This ecosystem can also be used for crab culture G

abu

ra

Terrestrial

Ecosystem

Crop

Vegetation



Social forest




Aquatic

Ecosystem

Fresh water

Ecosystem




Saline water

Ecosystem


Cultivation of saline tolerant fish


Bu

ri G

oal

ini

Terrestrial

Ecosystem

Crop

Vegetation




Social forest



natural hazards


Aquatic

Ecosystem

Fresh water

Ecosystem


Provide food for fish and other aquatic organisms




Saline water

Ecosystem




development

Great contribution in coastal aquaculture or shrimp

culture


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Mu

nsh

igan

j

Terrestrial

Ecosystem

Crop

Vegetation




Social forest



natural hazards


Aquatic

Ecosystem

Fresh water

Ecosystem




Saline water

Ecosystem




development


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Pollution is the effects of undesirable changes in our surroundings that have a harmful impact on plants,

animals and human beings. Pollutants are substances that are mainly responsible for the pollution to

occur. Since the dawn of civilization, the humans are modifying the natural environment and ecosystem.

This is resulting nothing but the harmful consequences that is causing a significant amount of loss in the

present age and immense amount of harm for the day to come. The major pollutions that are observed in

field tour is given bellow: -

Union Villages Pollution Observed Sources of pollution

Shyamnagar

Shyamnagar

Sader

Air Pollution

Burning fossil fuel

Burning fuel wood

Particulate matters due to brick production

Dust particles

Water Pollution

Oil seepage

Turbidity

Solid waste dumping

Sewage discharge

Discharge of soap and detergent

Medical residues

Salinity

Sea water intrusion

Land Pollution

Solid waste disposal

Sewage discharge

Fertilizer and pesticide

Salinity

Medical residues

Nawabeki

Water Pollution

Salinity

Sea water intrusion

Oil seepage

Turbidity

Land Pollution Solid waste disposal


Salinity

Air Pollution

Dust particles

Burning fossil fuel

Burning fuel wood


Barakupot Air Pollution Burning fuel wood

Particulate matters

Dust particles

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Salinity

Padma

Pukur Pakhimara

Water Pollution

Oil seepage

Turbidity

Solid waste dumping

Salinity

Sea water intrusion



Salinity

Gabura

Maddham

Kalishabunia

Water Pollution Oil seepage

Turbidity

Solid waste dumping

Air Pollution

Burning fossil fuel

Burning fuel wood

Particulate matters

Dust particles


Salinity


Chockbara

Water Pollution

Oil seepage from water vehicles

Turbidity

Solid waste dumping

Salinity


Salinity

Dumuria

Water Pollution Oil seepage from water vehicles

Salinity

Land Pollution Fertilizer and pesticide

Solid waste dumping


Land Pollution

Solid waste disposal

Sewage discharge


Salinity

Medical residues

Water Pollution

Oil seepage

Turbidity

Solid waste dumping

Sewage discharge

Discharge of soap and detergent

Salinity

Sea water intrusion

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Air Pollution

Burning fossil fuel

Burning fuel wood


Dust particles




Salinity

Water Pollution

Oil seepage

Turbidity

Solid waste dumping

Salinity

Sea water intrusion

Figure 11: - Pollution in the area

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KEY COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

SANITATION

POVERTY

RELIEF AND REHABILITATION

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According to Banglapedia, main occupations of the local people can be represented in the following pie

chart. Among them, Agriculture 36.9%, agricultural laborers 26.74%, commerce 13.32%, service 4.37%,

wage laborers 3.72%, transport 2.46% , fishing 1.86% and others 8.13% etc. According to literature, one

can find three major types of communities in the area under consideration. They are

1. Aqua farmer community

2. Crop farmer community

3. Natural resource collectors community

Figure 12: - Major occupations of the region (After Banglapedia)

Major types of community and key communities along with the union are provided in the following table.

SERIAL UNION KEY COMMUNITY

1. SHYAMNAGAR

Aqua farmer

Crop farmer

Natural resource collector

Day labor

2. PADMAPUKUR

Aqua farmer

Crop farmer


Businessman

1% 2% 2% 2% 4%

4%

8%

13%

27%

37%

pisiculture

Industry

Fishing

Transport

Wage laborers

Service

Others

Business

Agricultural labour

Agriculture

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3. GABURA

Aqua farmer

Crop farmer

Day labor

Businessman


4. BURI GOALINI

Aqua farmer

Day labor

Businessman


Transport labor

5. MUNSHIGANJ

Day labor

Businessman


Transport labor

Figure 13: - Fish is an important source of livelihood for the local people

By considering the literature and field observation, it was found that the key communities of the area under consideration are-

Aqua farmer

Crop farmer


Day labor

Businessman

Transport labor

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Most of the people of the area are poor. Their per capita income is also very small. As a result, standard

of living in the area is not satisfactory. After the impact of AILA, many people lost their house, crops and

household animals. This resulted in a great miseries for them. Moreover, salinity of the area increased in

an alarming rate. As a result, those highly fertile lands became unfit to cultivate paddy. In some areas,

people tried to grow rice but they failed. Recently a new variety of halotolarent paddy variety has been

isolated and some farmers started growing them. But still it’s really hard for them to restore their luck

what the AILA taken from them.

Figure 14: - A local house made of bamboo, mud and straw

As we can see from the communities and key communities, a large number of people are day labors.

They don’t have any land and they work on the land of the others or in a brick kiln. But recently

unemployment problem turned into a great social problem for the people of the area. As people are

moving towards aquaculture, this problem is becoming more and more serious day by day. Because,

aquaculture needs only a little amount of workers than that of traditional agriculture. For this reason, the

rich community of the area are becoming richer and the poor community are becoming poorer and may

be poorest.

To avoid such problems, setup of industry and mills in the area can provide a huge number of job

opportunity that will help to reduce the unemployment problem.

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Status of sanitation is getting improved day by day. Various NGOs and volunteer organizations are

working very actively in improving the condition of health and sanitation of the surrounding area

especially after the impact of AILA. Most of the latrines of the area as we visited were of sanitary in

nature. They were mostly made of ring-slab. A typical ring-slab latrine is shown in the following figure: -

Figure 15: - A typical sanitary latrine

In some parts of the area, we observed some of highly efficient modern latrines. These latrines are the

representative of highly efficient technology in which urine, feces and all other parts can be reused.

Organic manures can also be produce from such technology bearing latrine.

Figure 16: - Modern sanitary latrine of the area (Funded by OXFAM)

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The rate of literacy of the area is very low compared to the northern part of the country. According to

Banglapedia, the rate of average literacy in the area under study was found about 28.1%. The rate of

literacy in female is significantly lower than that of male in these areas. Literacy rate among the male of

the area can be as much as 38% while literacy in female of the area is not more than only 17.4%.

Figure 17: - Huge gathering in the local schools

During our field investigation, we got a chance to visit 4 primary schools of the area.3 of them are used as

a cyclone center. These visits revealed some untold truth. We found the existence of biscuit distribution

of biscuits under the finance of USAID. Almost all the students of primary school are eligible for these

biscuits. As a result, biscuits play a significant role in the number of school coming children of the area. As

a result, we found a large number of students are present I these schools but bench, classroom and other

facilities of these schools are extremely limited.

A very significant observation was the increase in the number of female students and the rapid increase

in the literacy for the females of the area. We found a close relationship of stipend of female students

and other facilities provided by the government and their increase in educational status. Though it is not

that much focused to be published in the literature but if this pattern is continued, surely we will see the

visual change in the overall education scenario.

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Figure 18: - Extreme scarcity of bench, chair and other educational instruments

For these financial aids, recently girls are being allowed to go to school. On the other hands, boys are not

much encouraged to go to school as there is no such economic gain for them. Instead they go to river and

collect fish or work in a brick kiln. In reply it provides a source of income for the boy as well as the family.

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Surface and subsurface water of the area under consideration is highly affected with salinity. For this

reason, scarcity for pure drinkable water is very acute here. People of the area mainly drink surface water

and pond water is the major source of water for the people of the area. In the western part of the study

area, we observed water supply for the use of drinking and cooking foods.

In the Barakupot area, we observed a water treatment plant and storage system that is used to supply

drinkable water for the villagers. The Satkhira Jubo Unnayan Porishad is the volunteer organization that

maintains its operation while this whole project was funded by MuslimAid, UK. This plant doesn’t aim at

complex type of treatment. Screening and physical treatment is the only process by which collected pond

water is treated before it is supplied for the public use. About 600 families are directly dependent on this

supply water. In the Gabura union area, similar water supply system was observed. Oxfam played the key

role and financed the whole water supply system.

Figure 19: - Water treatment and supply system in Barakupot area

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By considering literature review into account we can conclude that-

Pure and drinkable freshwater is very rare in the area. Due to an acute scarcity of drinking water,

local people have no other way but to drink the water of some freshwater ponds. But drinking

water from such sources is not safe and hygienic at all. By drinking such water, many waterborne

disease may result. We interviewed many local people who told us that they frequently suffer

from gastro-intestinal disorders and problems.

In some parts of the study area we observed water supply for drinking and cooking purpose but

this facility is not capable of providing safe drinking water for all those local peoples. Most of

these water supply systems are funded and maintained by either an NGO or a volunteer

organization. But if local government realize the need of sufficient water supply system, it will

definitely reduce the sufferings of the local villagers.

Poverty is a serious social issue of the study area. More specifically after the impact of AILA,

many people became homeless, jobless ad shelter less. Standing of this fact, it is easy to

understand that the poor condition of law and order is nothing but the result of poverty in the

area. If people have sufficient food and shelter, we strongly believe that the incident of crime will

definitely reduce.

In some parts of the area, coastal aquaculture practice is common and most farmers are moving

towards shrimp and crab culture. But saline water is required for the cultivation of these aqua

species. For this reason, aqua farmers created a large number of channels through the river. This

practice is highly responsible for the gradual weakness of the dam that aims at the protection of

the nearby road and locality from the devastation of flood and cyclone.

Sluice gates of the areas are constructed under the data of 1962. These data should be reviewed

and corrected where necessary to determine the appropriate sluice gate construction of the

area.

Enforcement of law should be strict to avoid further damage of the dams by the construction of

channels form the rivers.

Natural resource collectors should be trained well before they are permitted to collect nature

resource to avoid further damage of biodiversity and natural resource of the Sundarbans.

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Location name GPS Position Salinity

1.Base Camp 22°20’34”N

89°06’19”E

2.Kholpetua River 12.4ppt

3.Noabeki 22°20’34”N

89°12’06”E

1.4ppt (Tube well water)

4.Borokupot 22°20’24”N

89°12’07”E

4.3ppt (Pond water)

5.Borokupot (Gazibari) 1.1ppt (Both pond and tube well water

6.Nildumur

22°20’52”N

89°12’38”E 2.1ppt (Burigualini)

7.Chakbara (Gabura) 22°15’01”N

89°14’30”E 14.9ppt (Kholpetua River)

22°15’28”N

89°15’07”E 1.1ppt (Rupantor supplied water)

8.Dumuria 22°14’62”N

89°15’00”E

3.4(Paddy field)

1.6ppt(Irrigation water)

22°14’05”N

89°15’00”E 0.0ppt(pond water)

22°15’31”N

89°15’10”E 7.4ppt(Gher)

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INTERVIEW 01:

Name of Respondent: - MD. Shahabuddin

Occupation: - Hawker

Age: - About 70 years

Address: - Pratapnagar village under Padamapur union.

Question: - How much damage did Aila cause in your area?

Answer: - Aila caused a great damage in our area. Most of the places of our area were

submerged in the water. It severely damaged our house, crop field, cattle etc.

Question: -How long the area was submerged?

Answer: - Almost two years.

Question: - We can see a dam there. Why it was constructed and when?

Answer: - This dam was basically constructed to protect the surrounding area and roads from

riverbank erosion. The dam was constructed after the Aila impact.

Question: - What are the major occupations of the area?

Answer: - Many people are involved in business while most of the people are dependent on

agriculture. Among them some are dependent on crab culture and some grow paddy. Many of

them are forced to do this.

Question: - How many children do you have?

Answer: - 4 Sons and 3 Daughters.

Question: -Tell us about their educational status.

Answer: - They all completed primary education.

Question: - What are they doing now?

Answer: - Some of them are working in garments and others working in the brick field.

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INTERVIEW 02:

Name of Respondent: - Brojendronath Mistri

Occupation: - Teacher


Address: - Pratapnagar village under Padamapur union.

Question: - Is there any problem in drinking water due to salinity?

Answer: - Yes, the ground water became saline.

Question: - The numbers of trees are very low in here, what is the cause do you think?

Answer: - Due to saline water the trees are dying after plantation. Even crops are not growing.

Question: - What are the main occupations of the people around here?

Answer: - Most of the people are involved in shrimp culture but the profit is decreasing and

people are getting interested in agriculture.

Question: - Where do people find juvenile fishes or srimp?

Answer: - Most of them are collected from Cox- Bazar.


Answer: - 1 Son and 1 Daughter.

Question: -Tell us about the educational situation of your area.

Answer: - The children are very interested, but the reality is not letting them near the school.

INTERVIEW 03:

Name of Respondent: - Anima Rani Paul

Occupation: - Day labour


Address: - Nawabeki, Shymnagar.

Question: - What do you do?

Answer: - I work in the road construction site.

Question: -How much do you earn every day?

Answer: - Per day 120Tk.

Question: - Which fruits trees are found in this area?

Answer: - Coconut, Date palm, Palm, Sofeda etc. No other fruits grow in here.

Question: - What is the weather condition of this area during winter?

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Answer: - The cold was as usual but severe cold observed about 5-7 days.

Question: - What kind of latrine does your family use?

Answer: - We use sanitary latrine.

Question: -What other jobs do you have except road construction?

Answer: - Sometime I cell sands to the construction manager.

. Question: - How many children do you have?

Answer: - 2 Sons and they are married.

INTERVIEW 04:

Name of Respondent: - Haradhan Mandal

Occupation: - Businessman


Address: - Barakupat, Shymnagar.


Answer: - I am businessman and I sell shrimp.

Question: -Do you cultivate them yourself?

Answer: - Yes and some other laborers help me.

Question: - How much land do you use in shrimp culture?

Answer: - About 2 Acer land.

Question: - What kind of problem do you face during cultivation?

Answer: - Recently the disease of shrimp is increasing and we are not getting the proper benefit.


Answer: - 2 Sons and 1 Daughter.

Question: -Tell us about their educational status.

Answer: - They all completed primary education.

Question: - What are the main occupations in your area?

Answer: - Some are day labor others work in the brick field, Garments and in transportation

sectors.

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INTERVIEW 05:

Name of Respondent: - Devdas Kumar Mandal

Occupation: - Aqua farmer


Address: - Barakupat, Shymnagar.


Answer: - I am an Aqua farmer work in shrimp gher.

Question: -How many workers work with you?

Answer: - About 10-15 workers.

Question: - What are the major problems in this area?

Answer: - The people are suffering very hard. Due to salinity agricultural practice is affected that

is why most of the people are forced to do shrimp culture.

Question: - What about the production of Shrimp?

Answer: - The production is reduced recently. Before now the production was 20,000 Tk per

bigha but now it is reduced to 10-12,000Tk.

Question: - What do you think the cause of productivity loss?

Answer: - I think the Juveniles collected from outside cannot tolerate or cope with the

environment here.

Question: -Are you married?

Answer: - Yes.

Question: - Do you have any children?

Answer: - No.

INTERVIEW 06:

Name of Respondent: - Mir Abdur Razzeq

Occupation: - Ex- Union Parisad member


Address: - Maddam Kalisha bunia.

Question: - As an Ex- member what types of problem do you and your people feel?

Answer: - Mainly poverty, unemployment, un-developed communication system, lower budget

in constructive fields are the main problems.

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Question: -What is the condition of drinking water and sanitation system in this area?

Answer: - The condition was worsed before but due to the activity of NGOs and Volunteer

organizations we improved the condition.

Question: - From where the people collect Drinking water?

Answer: - The water scarcity is the main problem. Rainwater harvesting is used for collection of

drinking water some drink the pond water directly.

Question: - What is the choice of local people among Agriculture and Shrimp culture?

Answer: - The salinity is a common problem and growing crop is hard task as cyclone and storm

surges always hit this area. So the people think the shrimp culture is more profitable.

Question: - What are the main occupations of the local people?

Answer: - Mainly natural resource collectors, day labors, businessman, Fisherman, aquaculture

labor are common.

INTERVIEW 07:

Name of Respondent: - Sahadat Hossain Torofdar.

Occupation: - Businessman


Address: - 7 No Dumuria, Gabura.

Question: - Tell us about the educational condition of your area.

Answer: - The children are interested in studying and their presence is very present. But their

economic condition is not letting them to continue in higher study.

Question: -How many educational institutions are present in this area?

Answer: - There are 7 Primary Schools, 2 High Schools and 2 Madrasas are present. There is no

College so the students have to travel in far areas.

Question: - What are the impacts of Sundarban in the lifestyle of local people?

Answer: - The Sundarban is providing many resources so it is the main source of employment.

Question: - What is the condition of Medical systems in this area?

Answer: - The medical condition is very bad. There is no doctor available so in emergency case

people have to go in Stkhira and Khulna.


Answer: - 3 Sons and 2 Daughters.

Question: - What are they doing now?

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Answer: - Sons works in the forest two daughters are married.

INTERVIEW 08:

Name of Respondent: - Israfil Hossain.

Occupation: - Headmaster of 52 No Dumuria Primary School.

Age: - 40 years

Address: - Nildumur, Shamnagar

Question: - How many teachers and student do you have in this school?

Answer: - About 542 students among them 60% girls 40% boys. Four teachers are present now;

two of them are under PTI training.

Question: -What social problems are seen in this area?

Answer: - Early marriage is the important problem, the law and order is also hard to found.

Question: - What is the average age of early married children?

Answer: - The boys at the age of 15-17 get married with the girls’ age of 11-13 years.

Question: - What kinds of diseases are seen in this area?

Answer: - Mainly Different Gastrointestinal diseases are observed as they drink pond water and

other common diseases also happen.

Question: - What is the main occupation in this area?

Answer: - Mainly crop farmer, aqua farmer, Natural resources collector and day labors

Question: - Do the students continue their study?

Answer: - The boys are strongly influenced in working section and they have to work for their

family. So they cannot continue. Although some of them return after a long time. Very few are

going for higher study.

Field Report on Satkhira and Adjacent Area

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Transcript of Field Report on Satkhira and Adjacent Area