Volume 6, Issue 2, February – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Challenges of Char People in Northern Bangladesh:

A Study on Dimla, Nilphamari
Farhana Kamal Md. Mahabub. Chowdhury
Lecturer, Department of Sociology Lecturer, Department of Development Studies
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology
University, Dinajpur- 5200 University, Dinajpur- 5200
Bangladesh Bangladesh

Marjina Masud
Gender Specialist – SHOW
Plan International Bangladesh
Rangpur Divisional Office
House 272, Road 01, G. L. Roy Road
Purba Kamal Kachna, Rangpur,
Bangladesh

Abstract:- Bangladesh officially declared the huge the wet season hampers the indigenous livelihood mechanism
productivity of crops in recent years. At the same time by creating flood and river erosion. The river basin people,
population lives below the poverty line especially in the char-people rely on the natural system. Any regulatory
northern part of Bangladesh. The food insecurity of system of natural flow hampers in habitat, flood control,
Bangladesh and living condition is regionally varied and fisheries, public health, groundwater level, sanitation,
depends on several factors. The tendency of natural cultural meanings, and values. Changing climate creates
disaster, distribution of agricultural land, access to conflict, social stress, food insecurity, water insufficiency,
health facilities, education, and level of infrastructure and change in crop pattern. The Teesta Barrage causes
development, employment opportunities, and dietary several disasters that create disturbance in normal life,
practices are some of the significant factors that affect especially food sufficiency. The local people are habituated
food insecurity and peoples living condition. People of to disasters but climate change and environmental
different classes, regions, educational backgrounds, degradation challenge the coping mechanism.
gender experience the effects differently. This paper aims
at exploring the challenges of Char Women and their The community indigenous knowledge becomes
socio-economic circumstances in natural disasters insufficient to solve the new human-made disaster puzzle.
around the year, especially in flood and drought times. These populations living in the river basin, especially near
The existence of the Teesta barrage and the over the Teesta Barrage remained to detach from the people of the
extortion of stones from the river bed create the riverside mainland of Bangladesh. They have their own lifestyle, own
environment worst to live in. This study is conducted in land distribution system, socio-political hierarchical system,
Kisamater Char, Niilphamari. A sample of 25 Char own land, own unity, and own economic system. Many
women is collected with a qualitative theoretical and national and international organizations have been
methodological ground. The case study method has been implementing different projects for the overall development
used as a main principal tool. This study reveals that the of quality of livelihood but still changes. This study is
majority of Char women are unable to maintain family conducted in Kisamater Char, Nilphamari. These populations
food security in maintaining societal gendered customs. living in the river basin, especially near the Teesta Barrage
remained detached from the people of the mainland of
Keywords:- Food Insecurity; Teesta; Char People; Women. Bangladesh. They have their own lifestyle, own land
distribution system, socio-political hierarchical system, own
I. INTRODUCTION land, own unity, and own economic system. Many national
and international organizations have been implementing
The Teesta River supports the livelihood of more than different projects for the overall development of quality of
20 million Bangladeshi people. Some planned hydropower livelihood but still, changes are not visible. The inner
projects and dams in Sikkim, the Teesta Barrage in the west mechanism of water development projects of the Bangladesh
of Bengal for irrigation decrease the water flow that worsens government and the internal mechanism of the river basin
the potential water resource condition. There is a continuous under the control of ‘Mahajan’ or ‘local political leaders’ are
dispute Teesta reflects India’s construction of the Gajaldoba two influential factors in this regard. The reason is that
barrage upstream of Dalia and reduction of flow in without understanding the social dynamics and social
Bangladesh in the dry season. The sudden water release in mechanism of river basin people, developmental projects are

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Volume 6, Issue 2, February – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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implemented that results only benefit the richer population their own potentiality of maintenance of public irrigation
who controls the river basin area. The reason is that without system.
understanding the social dynamics and social mechanism of
river basin people, developmental projects are implemented The resource development projects promised the
that results only benefit the richer population who controls maintenance of natural resources, but local participation
the river basin area. In this context, our analysis of actual organization facilitates much in irrigation, cultivation for
challenging coping mechanisms includes the poverty level, both nature and human being. Barenstein (2008) shows the
nutrition inadequacy and changed crop cultivation pattern, uncovered fallacies of participation in water resource
the unequal and private access to natural resources. management in rural Bangladesh. The collective interest
motivates people to organize such type of institution. In the
II. LITERATURE REVIEW most conservative zone like the hoar zone, participation
organization is established by orthodoxy. Olson, a touch for
Paul (1984) explores the farmer’s perception of the collective action of goal fulfillment based on group interest.
flood (normal and abnormal flood) in the jasmine riverbank Here Olson expires these goals may relate to tangible
area. Although Bangladesh is both flood dependent and flood commodities. Group goals and group interests are subject to
vulnerable, the damage of crops, properties and human life solving such dilemmas. He proved the relevancy of his
has become a crucial issue. Historically, farmer’s perception theory.
of flood refers to the sudden water level rise, heavy cloud
formation, heavy rainfall, verbal information of rapid water Wade (1998) found that collective action is closely
level change. Agricultural adjustment defined human linked to ecologically determining risks that menace the local
activities intended to reduce or minimize the negative impact production system. Generally, the hoar basin of the basin of
of extreme events (white, 1974). The crop pattern and crop Sylhet in the dry season can produce one (winter paddy) crop
availability determine the farmer’s choice of cultivation. As can grow, while the whole of Bangladesh can produce thrice
jute and Aus cannot le rate exclusive rainfall, farmers crops per year. The local community reserves water in
comparatively choose Aman for it’s for its persistence numerous khals, beels, and dobas. The haor basin is rich in
capability. In the time of the flood, adjustment practices of fish and water resources but government ownership of haor
farmers such as placing bamboo sticks. Around fields are allows the only leaseholder to get access there. Drainage
adapted the vulnerable situation. The severe flood of 1974 practices are strictly regulated through informal rules and
causes grist damage. local matabbars (informal village leaders).

Paul (1984) also said about the pre-flood precautions The inequality of power distribution locality is based on
including placing bamboo sticks around the field, building the inequality of land distribution. Agricultural lands an
machan for animals, moving to higher grounds for safety. It unequally distributed among the local people. Self-
also includes the intercultural of Aman and Aus with the cultivation, shave based cultivation of crops are common.
protection from water hyacinths, movement by boats. The Hydraulic infrastructure strategies such as irrigation canals,
choice of farmers based on the flood sensitive Aus (harvested jangals, cross dams, embankment cuts. Embankment closure
in July, August) and flood-tolerant Aman (harvested in help to cope with extreme weather.
October). In a Hormel year, without drought and flood, both
crops can be harvested. Another common Indigenous water management
technology all over Bangladesh is a cross dam for preserving
But in other situations, at least one crop can be surface water due to the domestic use of irrigation fish
harvested. Paul (1984) also explores the interconnection cultivation. Cross dams are built with bamboo mats, banana
between farer’s perception and spiritual being’s satisfaction trees, bamboo poles. People voluntarily build cross dams per
or anger. The local people believe only Allah knows what year. The removal of cross dams ensures the drainage of
will happen and when the flood comes. Paul observed local excessive water in the rainy season. The indigenous people
people are ready to adjust to normal floods but abnormal protect their crops from the flood by the technique of drain of
floods make their life insecure. (Paul, 1984:3-16). the monsoon. Although embankment cutting is referred to as
a crime, people do it for protecting their crops, community
In my concern, the villagers of the Teesta River have approval of both general cultivation and matabbars allow to
many alternative crop choice in changed soil gradation. They do it.
cultivate corn, peanuts in sandy soil. Farmers take many
coping strategies to adapt to the changed condition. In the emergency of 1996, the collective effort to
protect boro crops was executed by community people.
Barenstein (2008) shows the capacity of indigenous Ignoring the announcement of govt. engineers organize the
communities of maintaining the natural resources and solving team to strengthen the vulnerable embankment portion with
dangers with collective efforts with an example of the hoar sandbags, bamboo sticks, mats of bamboo, and earth. Village
basin, in northeast Bangladesh. Although international funds known as samajik funds are collected for supporting
development agencies, governments, and NGOs take common interest and spiritual rituals ceremony. Here, siral
developmental projects for promoting the progress of rural on was appointed to pray for the wellbeing of paddy and their
less developed areas, indigenous communities hold/doses survival as a whole. Village donations are used in riverbank
contraction or jangal making. There was an informal pulse

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for water resource management and lightly respected rules Paul et al. (2013) clearly show Monga as seasonal
aimed at regulating fishing practices. Fisher’s interests must poverty (et al and era 2008) and clinical phenomena .the
be protected by informal rules. Matabbar ave responsible for existence of MONGA prevails in the northern countryside of
the overall management of common water resources, Bangladesh affecting mostly agricultural day laborers,
hydraulic infrastructure, and village fund, etc. traditionally, landless and marginal farmers, women, and child and aged
village communities take an initial stop for collectively person. The coping strategies are also highlighted as reducing
protecting themselves. (Barensteine, 2008:4-18) quality and quantity of food, choosing alternative foods such
as consumption of wild vegetables and less nutritious items.
Banerjee (2010) used ‘creative destruction’ for
analyzing the effects of riverine floods on agriculture In the months of mid-September and mid-December
productivity n Bangladesh. Although disaster cruet severe (Bhdra- Kartik) acute deprivation of food and starvation
damage to the physical capital stock, it may return with affects people's health. People lead their lives by borrowing
greater efficiency in the long run. The frequency of climate from neighbors, friends, relatives, NGOs and selling
disaster is positively correlated with long-term accumulation productive assets such as cattle, chicken, and tress. People of
in human capital, TFD growth, and GDP per capita growth. the affected area change from their occupation like non-
(Skidmore and Toya, 2002). firming occupation, vendor, a rickshaw puller, fishing, day
laborer, etc. In some extreme cases, people take advance
Disaster may help one to adapt with new upgrading payments for selling crops due to starvation. Seasonal
technologies, new food resistant seeds, etc. Natural disasters migration, social disruption, and dependency on relief are the
that affect technology absorption can take place only in most common features of Monga affected area.
countries with high levels of per capita GDP. NOY and
VU(2009) long presented research on the long-term effects of Human adaptation capacity is a complex and dynamic
creative destruction of disaster by estimating low esteem process, linking with the many social and economic
events can generate a period of renewed economic activity variables. Monga affects child education and nutrition.
and investment in the short run. The lethal disaster destroyed However, Paul concludes with the relationship of occupation
the capital in Vietnam but it had a positive impact on with Monga. He says government job holders get much to
economics. After the years of the regular flood “DISASTER relax in Monga.
YEARS” 1987, 1988, Bangladesh is divided as ‘flood-prone
zone” and ‘non-flood prone zone”. (Banarjee, 2010:2-13) in III. METHODOLOGY
my concern the fertility of the soil of Bangladesh are the
reaction of the regular flood. The study has adopted a qualitative strategy and data
was collected from FGD and case studies. The Tatipara
Campbell (1999) wants to discuss food insecurity by village belongs to Dimla Upazilla, Nilphamari. Five case
two notions of the ready availability of nutrition adequate and studies with targeted respondents and another twenty
safe foods as well as access to get food in a socially participants are units of analysis who are the head of their
acceptable way. Risk factors that are responsible for food household. The purposive sampling technique has been used
insecurity affect people's household resources and result in based on the demand research type. For secondary data
hunger, malnutrition, and other negative quality of health and newspapers, books, journal articles were reviewed. Contacts
quality of life. are done with the Upazilla chairman to ensure favorable
conditions in the research area where Indian border guards
By referring to the two dimensions of food insecurity, visit the stateliness.
Campbell shows the insecurity of enough food for a healthy
life and socially acceptable way to gain it with the A. Selection of the Study Area at Preparatory Stage:
opportunity of different food choices. Teesta is a mighty river that covers a long area. The
Teesta Barrage causes suffering and severe damage in many
In the industrial country, the measurement of food areas of Nilphamari, especially Dilma Upazilla face too many
insecurity depends on financial constrain and acquisition, challenges for food insecurity due to too much disaster
consumption. At the community level the food market frequency. In all the disaster-prone area, we have selected a
availability, access to food both financially and physically village named Tatipara, Kismater Char of Dakkhin Kharibari
noticed. Monitoring the importance of physiological Mouza of Dimla Upazilla, Nilphamari. It is nearest to the
mechanism in food and nutrition, Campbell recognizes river.
malnutrition, poverty, poor diet, family disintegration,
famine, mental stress as potential consequences. (Champbell, B. Study Area:
1999) This area of Tatipara village is in the Dimla Upazilla
under Khokharibari Mouza. This study place is so remote
The linkage of that area with this concept allows seeing that situated beside the India-Bangladesh border area. The
some similar criteria. Most of the people are the victim of people of Tatipara village face extreme flood and drought
malnutrition .anger, tension shows as stress and low rate of around the year. Local people work as stone collectors and
education reflect the severe condition of food inadequacy and some involvement with agricultural work that depends on the
food insecurity. natural environment and calamities.

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IV. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF THE STUDY technologies and the choice of skills that are applied to a
variety of community and individual properties that can
A. FOOD INSECURITY change during the course of disaster.
Food insecurity, as regarded as one of the needs of
human rights, is facing crucial challenges in the Tatipara C. INDEGENOUS FLOOD PREVENTION AND COPING
village. The inhabitants are bound to fight food deprivation, STRATEGIES
malnutrition, hunger. Although this region continuously Local people both from char and river basin practice
remarked as the zone of ‘Monga’ of ‘hunger’, the people of their own adaptive techniques depend on people's socio-
this area have endogenous knowledge to fight with that. But cultural-economic circumstances and characteristics of the
this valuable knowledge is incapable to fight new challenges flood. In this study, various preventive strategies are found
as these climate changes are not natural. Moina and Hamida from the shared opinion of the FGD participants. The
express their view that the traditional crops are not practices include the placing of barriers around the house,
cultivated as production is not well. Cultivated agricultural raising the platform of the house, creating a barrier with
lands are destroyed by riverbank erosion. These lands near water hyacinth and thatch, bamboo sticks known as thekha
to Teesta River continuously transformed as sandy land (barrier). Bamboo or wood made machan or potatto in the
(Char). The chars are not fit for crops mainly for rice upper part of the shelter. The available wood, bamboo, water
production. resources are used for these indigenous adaption techniques.
Reducing the number of meals and relying on inexpensive
Azima and Kalpona expressed their opinion that their food, selling assets, all are added to the list of adaptive
family has to suffer from inadequate food. They also fast in techniques. Fatema and Johora tell that they borrow and sell
the time of waterlogging and severe drought season. their assets to mitigate the negative impacts of the flood. The
Reduction of meal frequency and meal size leads their life char people and flood bounded people use boats made of
insecure, vulnerable, and unhealthy. Chronic poverty, high banana trees for communication. They have a common
price market, and unfavorable climate make uncertainty, tendency to depend on relief in the crisis period. These
unavailability of food, differential access, instability of preventive and mitigating strategies give them the strength
market hampers their proper nutritious health status. At the to fight regular natural disasters. Raising homestead is
household level earning money and having access to food is another option to protect shelter to a safer place during the
so tough as most of the inhabitants are small farmers and worst cases. These techniques are used for human shelter
day labor. An inappropriate amount of vitamins and and livestock shelter.
minerals added under nutritious, underweight. Regular
disease probability. Kolpona added in the time of D. LOCAL MEDICINE PRACTICES DURIND AND
unavailable food they collect aquatic foods such shapla, AFTER FLOOD
shalok, shak and kachu, aloer kondo, bamboo roots. But As waterlogging and flood are regular incidents, local
continuous climate change hampers the natural food people have their own strategies to face many water borne
availability and food chain infrastructure. The inhabitants of diseases, skin diseases, cold, dysentery, diarrhea, and fever
Tatipara village have less access to the market due to their during and after the flood. Nayeb Ali and Nurjahan inform
poor affordability, low income, and poor purchasing that majority collect medicine from the local Bazar without
capability. The utilization of food in a household depends on any consultation of a doctor. Herbal medicine is very
the gender perspective. Food safety and nutritional values popular based on indigenous knowledge to be cured from
and food choice of women are devalued. The cultural system diseases. Tulsi (ocimum santum), Hartoki, Bohera, Basak
provides the best and quite good amount of food for males (Adhatoda vasica), Pudina (menthe Arvensis, Trifola, and
while women get the least amount of food. Instability in the leaves from local trees for making medicine, as Akondo
market resulting in food price spikes can cause transitory leaves for pain. The use of the Rasun (Garlic) and Ada
food insecurity. Hasanur and Azima told about the (Ginger) with hot oil is famous for curing diseases. Gandon
consequences of food insecurity. Disease spreads, famine is vadal, pudina, and Thunkuni are used for stomach problems
quite known to them. Child’s education and growth are such as dysentery, diarrhea.
hampered. Inhabitants also adopt many socially
unacceptable ways to restore emergency food supplies such E. CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIOR
as stealing. All the participants agree that the Teesta Barrage People generally face scarcity of food and try to cope
hampers their normal food production and causes food up with it by reducing the number of the meal, depends on
insecurity, while the Government and NGO initiatives are the less expensive (flatted rice, jute leaves as a vegetable).In
less capable to improve their present condition and this study, Nayeb Ali informs us people eat khudi (one kind
degradation and climate change are the major risk factor for of power of rice), shapla, shaluk.
food insecurity.
F. COPING WITH DROUGHT
B. INDEGENOUS COPING STRATEGIES It is famous for drought. People do not have work, no
Indigenous knowledge is transgenerational valuable agricultural work for cultivation. The males of these areas go
learning that human learns in an unconscious mind in our outside as rickshaw puller for seasonal work known as
socio-cultural area for protecting themselves. This ‘Mafij’ and return to their home in the normal season.
knowledge system, skill, technologies are known as ‘coping People start from the inadequate diet then depend on less
strategies’. These mechanisms are based on available expensive food, then starvation, all techniques are applied.

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Women sold their own assets, tress, furniture, jewelry for and agreements regulate regional water sharing. Water is
survival, and work for others for daily food. Women collect now ‘emotive and politically changed’ ignoring
wild plants for family diets, cattle sold, other livestock sold, environmental safety, common needs of downstream people.
and the land piece sold all are common consequences of Teesta is a snow fed river with several glaciers and glacier
drought. Government initiatives are so late and insufficient lacks in an upper Sikkim region that travels at high
that the community cannot run flexibly. velocities with large quantities of debris and sediment. A big
area of the global biodiversity hotspot, with a rich variety of
G. NO ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF INCOME OF endemic flora and fauna. In Bangladesh, the Teesta is crucial
TATIPARA INCOME to meeting the agriculture and irrigation needs of northern
Tatipara women expressed their helpless condition due parts of the country that are water scarcity and drought-
to drought and males of their household bound to alter their prone. From the argument of local people, I get the
traditional occupation. Women who work in stone collection Gazaldoba Barrage upstream of Dalia has noticeably
become the patient of many known and unknown dust reduced the water availability in the dry season. The
allergy. community demand for farming, irrigation, fishing, which
are crucial, is undermined. The representatives of these
Who Takes the Preventive Most? communities describe changes in the river and riverbank
Family is a fundamental social unit for reducing risk. sides over the last 20 or 30 years. They notice increased
The family friends, neighbors, extended kin relations are the sedimentation, siltation of river, braiding, and the growth of
network for exchange, mutual assistance, and the social the chars in the river beds.
contract. Women and older persons with their knowledge
collect medicine, food, and take initiatives for survival. These changes affect heavily flora and fauna and result
Women collect energy, fuel and make portable stoves for in flooding and riverbank erosion, many families are
cooking. The burden of pure water collection for drinking relocated as a result. The elderly Nayeb Ali said the quality
and take care of ill, disable, old family members, is the of silt and sand has increased in recent years. Navigation
culture-based role of women. Here, coping strategies, faces difficulties due to the fragmentation of the river caused
adaptation techniques are depended on class, social status, by siltation. Reduction of rainfall, water scarcity results in
and economic capabilities. Very often poor, marginalized depletion of the fish population, loss of species, mohasoul,
and local people of disaster-prone zones suffer most, take borali, andlocal varieties as bagar, piyali which are once
shelter in the shelter home. available and plentiful, have become increasingly rare. Local
traditional fishermen of Tatipara now tend to leave their
H. INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF RISK PERCEPTION customary occupation, as the river is not plenty of fishes.
Risk perception varies from community to community. Teesta is the lifeline for irrigation, navigation, agriculture,
In Bangladesh, the riverbank people have their indigenous farming, and fishing. The structural policies of water
knowledge of upcoming floods, tornados, drought, scarcity development projects hamper the productivity of the
of fishes, etc. From the discussion with local and especially Rangpur division which is the poorest zone of the whole of
with many old aged villages, it has been found that people of Bangladesh. Lack of insufficient water, Tatipara villagers
this village get the previous assumption of risk by pointing use to collect water by motor, as a result, they have to
the position of stars in the sky, the black clouds emergence depend on groundwater by spending money. The cost of
in the northwest side of the sky, from the cultural knowledge agriculture significantly increased here. To be very specific,
of bangle calendar, and many other ways. They set up nature gives a natural resource to this riverbank stone, sand.
bamboo in the river for pointing out the rise or down of river The poor previously collect stones hand by hand and now
water. Local views and indigenous knowledge of risk some Government accepted contractors use drazing machine
perception are incapable and insufficient to cope up with for stone collection and sand. The local people's access is
these new changes. The Teesta Barrage controls the normal denied strictly in Tatipara village as well as other areas.
flow of water and sudden water leaving in rainy make their These people collect stones secretly and sold them to
life vulnerable and make them less capable to fight with primary stakeholders. The stone collection process involves
these unpredictable dangers. great paradoxes and steps of stakeholders, from the primary
stakeholders to the secondary stakeholders and a big
I. NATURAL RESOURCES OF WATER business racket. The stone collection is a clear example of
As a part of the Ganges river basin, the Teesta political economy that shows differential access to natural
riverbank contains too many natural resources that are resources. The local elites, chairman, member, influential
bestowed with mighty Teesta. The Transboundary River villagers, and political personalities have access to natural
meets different agricultural and industrial needs and a high resources. Their access to natural resources is clearly
level of water dependency ratio of 75.5 percent. Natural unethical but somehow socially acceptable as the poor and
resources face challenges due to different infrastructure marginalized work as the day laborer for local Mahajans and
projects (hydroelectricity projects, dams). Different bilateral chairman.

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TABLE 1: THE LOCAL CROP PATTERN OF TATIPARA VILLAGE
Summer Rainy Autumn Fall Winter Spring
Boishakh- Asharh-Shrabon(Mid Vadro-Ashbin(Mid- Kartik-Ogrohayon Poush-Magh(Mid Falgun-Chaitro
Jayeshto (Mid June To Mid-August) August To Mid- (Mid October To December To (Mid-February To
April-Mid June) October) Mid-December) Mid-February) Mid-April)

Rice (Aman) Chili Corn Onion Garlic

Chili Corn (No Special
Corn Onion Production This
Wheat Garlic Time)
Peanut Peanut
Jute
Sharno Rice
Borno Rice

All time cultivated crop: Corn, Onion, Garlic, Chili, landscape changes in this Tatipara village area. The seasonal
Dhania, Kalizira, Tomato, Potato, Brinjal etc. food crisis of this Tatipara is known as Monga. This type of
food insecurity makes people ecological vulnerable and
What are the Changes Taking Place? economically weak and income deficiency, unemployment
As the quality of soil changes and char lands are is the consequence of it. As the quality of land changes, the
increasing people are targeting to cultivate some species that environmental refugee is increasing rapidly. As the quality
are suitable for sandy land. Corn, wheat, onion, chili, peanut of land is unable to meet the demand for food, there remains
are the main harvesting crops. Aus crop gives lower no alternative to turn occupation in other sections. Azima
production. At least 20-25 years ago, people cultivate rice as told that the sandy land perfect for peanut and other sandy
their main crop. Although regular inundation took place, adjustable foods.
farmers got much production of rice. But new changes in
soil and water scarcity bound people to leave rice and took K. WATER SCARCITY AND FOOD INSECURITY
others. Bangladesh is known as a country of rivers and has a
long history of struggling with floods, a tropical cyclone.
HOW THESE NEW FOOD/CROPS CULTIVATE SUPPORT Seasonal water problem and scarcity tackled with
FARMERS: indigenous knowledge techniques but the growing scarcity
New crops create a scope of income opportunity. not only of local people but also of the whole country. The
Displaced and poor people cultivate char lands and become water scarcity in the northern zone of the Teesta River has a
benefited. Azima and Nayeb Ali said the powerful or direct relation with the gap between demand and supply
influential get control over char and the poor work as locally during the dry season. Water scarcity hampers
‘adiyar’. human consumption, food production, irrigation,
transportation, biodiversity conservation, etc. Water scarcity
J. QUALITY OF LAND in the dry season bound people to get attempt to use ground
As the Transboundary River, Teesta is controlled by level water for irrigation. From Shahina and Mafiz the
development strategies, natural quality of soil has changed. people of Tatipara village face too much problem in the dry
The quality of soil is changed due to scarcity of water, water season (months of December to May). This water stress is
diversity projects result in water scarcity in the dry season, caused by very low precipitation, high evaporation, and very
and damage the local ecosystem and reduce productivity. little water in the river. The worsening situation is increasing
The fertility of land changed, it is the argument of local day by day and turns the situation alarming in the food
people of Teesta Barrage. The fertile land is transforming security system. Some people of Tatipara leave the farming
itself into sandy and low water-holding land so production occupation and adopt new occupation in other (Zilla Shohor)
quality and quantity both have changed highly. Saidul and districts and capital. Drought severity reduces crop
Serina told that local people previously cultivate rice as a production. Nayan Miah said that is quite expensive, whole
major crop, but new challenges of productivity force people villagers are self-sufficient with natural resources in
to cultivate crop and peanut in the sandy zone (char) in that previous days.
area. Expert opinion express that water sharping with India
is crucial in achieving food security and sustainable L. WATER POLICIES OF BANGLADESH RELATED
livelihood in Bangladesh. Agriculture land and its quality in TEESTA RIVER
Bangladesh, especially in Nilphamari totally depended on Water is a contested resource, as it has many
the availability of freshwater, for irrigation, Teesta rivers implications and multiple sources of gaining ecological,
water, and monsoon rain. Groundwater depends on seasonal social, and economic benefit. Stakeholders with the power of
rainfall. Arsenic havoc increases much demand for the politically contested techniques achieve differential access to
Teesta River freshwater. Scarcity of water influences natural resources of water. Although the water governance
regional food production. It also results in famine, less food of Bangladesh argues about the moral appeal and ecological
production, deforestation, arable land reduction, and overall necessity, it gives priority over economic necessities. Water

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management, distribution, usages all are questionable and cramps, irregularity of menstruation, etc. In a question of
some social protests of dynamic civil society institutions, who suffers most, Kalpana and Mafiz told that women,
groups of ecological safety raise their voice to consider the children, old suffer most. But Shahina, Sharifa, Saidul told
potential necessity of water depended on communities. The that they thought males suffer most because the male had to
water politics of Bangladesh is related to the relationship go outside from the home. Males cannot remain silent both
between its neighboring countries. Bangladesh is a country in a high temperature and in severe cold. They have to go
downstream, it has dependency over other South Asian out for income and on the other side women have to keep is
countries like India and upstream countries. The relationship safe place and women have to do cooking just with what
between Bangladesh, India historically be difficult due to their man income for the family. When women become a
political tensions and regular armed conflict in the border. victim of fever, cold, asthma, RTI, and various
Bangladeshi culture and livelihood pattern is so closely gynecological diseases due to malnutrition, unhygienic
related to the river. Numerous bilateral treaties and sanitation practice, and lack of awareness. Rural women
agreements regulate regional water sharing and almost become a vulnerable section of the society and suffer
infrastructural development (dam, hydro political power) from ill-health. Enamul Haque and Abdul Hamid express
dominate communal rights over the water. Although the that they are too much tried to see their women ill who
Indus valley treaty of 1960 is renowned as a landmark always suffer from diseases. In the study, it has been found
treaty, India continuously violates its rule. In this complex that some gender access to medical treatment and medicine.
geopolitical scenario, the situation of water resource Women inform their parents or husband about the illness
management and utilization of shared transboundary water lately. Men do not buy medicine from the bazaar or take the
resources is getting worse day by day. India as a country of women to the hospital for treatment unless it becomes a
upper stream position gives a limited space of critical situation. Women claim that they cannot save
accountability, transparency. Bangladesh Government also themselves from severe cold waves in summer, as a result,
considers these needs as peripheral demand and given less cold, Ashma and other respiratory diseases troubles their
attention. A series of development activities on Teesta life. The miserable condition of women’s respiratory health
involves a series of cascade dams for hydropower generation due to malnutrition and unusual life condition. Azima
in the Sikkim state and violates the human right of express, she did not get enough food although she was
Bangladeshi people on Teesta water resources. pregnant, from her mother-in-law. Her husband and in-laws
Hydroelectric projects aimed to produce a huge amount of sent her back to her father’s family. Shahana told that
electricity. India used to divert Teesta water for their own women rarely go to the hospital for treatment and childbirth
water necessary for the irrigation of 30 million hectares. In or pregnancy. Traditional birth attendants (local dai), local
Bangladesh, there is a proposed irrigation plan for the Kabiraj give them treatment and involves the risk of health
northern part of the country aimed to increase agricultural in their future life. Local people often find alternative
production, food security and employment opportunities, treatment with spiritual healers (Kabiraj), herbal treatment,
etc. etc. These healers give them Tabij (spiritual treatment) pani
pora, and some requirements to follow in their daily life.
It covers Nilphamari, Dinajpur, and Rangpur division Tatipara village is too remote that government does not
and Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon. Dalia Barrage in the allow electricity service here. The transformation and
Lalmonirhat district played a crucial role as canal head communication system is too bad that people cannot move
regulator, flood embankments, irrigation, and drainage to the hospital anytime. People collect medicines from the
canal. It reduced the canal availability to northern areas. local Tista bazaar and sometimes visit the parallel doctor
Bilateral negotiations and the idea of both consequences of (homeopathy doctor) for treatment.
unequal power relations between two states.
No government clinic and private hospital in Tatipara
M. HEALTH PROBLEMS village. People have to go to Dimla Upazilla health complex
River basin people commonly suffer from water-borne for treatment. Here, two nurses and a doctor visit it
diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dynasty, etc. When sudden irregularly and send all patients to Nilphamari Sadar
and unusual floods and waterlogging happens, then people hospital. Female health workers visit the area’Tatipara’
suffer much. Sanitation problems and collecting pure water rarely but visitors for telling about hygienic hand wash and
and available food for family members become acute. family planning but elders (Murabbi) do not tell to lessen
Women as a pride of the family, have to face the problem of her.
sanitation problem. They have to go away or distance place
for a toilet. Women of Tatipara village told they use boat N. CHALLENGES TO NEW RISKS
made of banana tree (Kolar vela) to go to toilet. Women, Traditional lifestyles are at the risk of new challenges
children, the old, disable suffer most from this climate for Tatipara villagers. In the discussion with villagers, it has
change. Severe old and severe damage not temperate been found that various changing patterns in the village
disturbs the normal way of life. Women in a discussion of lifestyle. From their argument, it has been found that
their health problem told that they face a severe problem of significant changes in this area and their lifestyle. People
unusual menstruation, RTI, Acidity, skin problems, etc. The were used to cultivating some traditional types of rice,
respondents added in severe conditions of climate, they face although the land was at the risk of inundation or flood
common menstrual problems, lower abdominal pain, heavy regularly. When the Teesta barrage was built up the natural
bleeding, white discharge accompanied by abdominal lifestyle become affected. Non-seasonal and sudden floods

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
create uncertainty in their life, crops, and livestock. Science gives farmers the way for huge production. Euria,
Traditional crops like vajoi rice (one kind of regional potash is used as chemical fertilizer.
popular rice) were cultivated. Water resources like borale,
blam, pangash, puti were available. Local people are used to The demand for foreign seeds: Rural people have their
fighting with seasonal difficulties. But now water control own way to produce seeds and naturally preserve them.
and management now at the head of the women and They have their gudam ghar (store) for seed preservation.
upstream country. Farmers used cow dung, and Sobuj Sar But nowadays the preservation of seeds and utilization face
(compost) fertilizer, and natural pesticides to cultivate their too many challenges. The new seeds of a foreign country are
crops. Now farmers use chemical fertilizers from the market. introduced and assured as better productivity and ability to
From human natural manufacture, people turned to market meet peoples demand. So native garlic, onion, and rice seeds
sold chemical fertilizer and pesticides. The irregular flood facing challenges. If people produce potatoes, they choose
and water scarcity troubles crop production. Abul Miah and Holland’s seed and other foreign seed that gives the big size
Abdul Hamid told that rice, wheat, corn need sufficient and better production. But native indigenous seeds were
irrigation for good production. The crops face trouble and available and used on a trans generational basis.
crop production is destroyed. Abul Miah crop faced severe
damage due to lack of proper rainfall and water scarcity. R. COMMUNITY LIVELIHOOD
Unseasonal and sudden rainfall with heavy thunder and In a study of Tatipara village, most inhabitants are
heavy stone raining cause severe damage. Buying water poor and work as adiyar (leaseholder) of others land. In the
from motor per hour increases production cost. River contact of ¼ production of crop and yearly contract, they get
erosion increases cause damage day by day. In the previous the lands. Some people have their own lands. Some people
2 years, it takes 20-25 hectares. So migration occurs and have their own land who cultivate by themselves. Before
people take shelter in both districts and migration. Ground- 20/25 years all have farmers and having their traditional
level of water is decreasing day by day. Food challenges occupation transformed from generation to generation. But
take place in critical condition. At the family level, male significant changes are taking place in this village. Young
members of the family transfer their traditional occupation. and male are targeting to swift their traditional occupation.
A tendency of becoming a rickshaw puller, day laborer is Day laborer, a rickshaw puller, van puller are the targeting
highly noticeable. Sharifa and Shahina expressed a group of occupation. In the crisis period, all of the villagers work as a
traditional families of fisherman changed their traditional unit to fight. They all constructed the junjankha dighi sides
occupation due to lack of water and fishes in their river that stop the excessive water.
water. Without any natural flow of water, they do not get
enough fish. Two families are shifted to Sadar Nilphamari, S. EDUCATION AND HAND TO HAND TO MOUTH
they work there as rickshaw puller and day laborer. These LIVELIHOOD
new risks affect the community life, traditional and In the whole Tatipara village area, there is only one
economic life. primary school and two teachers. The school is contracted
both for education and a flood-affected shelter home. Azima,
O. FERTILIZER Sharifa, Abul Hamid all others tell that this is the only
Traditionally, the villagers of Tatipara use their shelter home of their total area. The existence of Gunjankhaa
indigenous knowledge of fertilizer making but their dighi and its bank is the bank is less structured. It is
practices face serious challenges due to the change of considered a major threat for them, especially for the rainy
ecosystem. In an ecosystem all variables are interrelated, season. Nayeb Ali, the retired master of the primary school,
changes in water flow and water management destroy the told about the comparatively poor condition of the school’s
whole food chain of Tatipara villages. Two types of result than others. As most of them are ‘adiyar’ and their
fertilizers are used in this village: income level is too poor that they cannot run their child’s
education properly. The family needs manual labor for
P. ORGANIC FERTILIZER livestock care, energy collection. Especially girl child is
Sharifa and Kalpana, Abdul Hamid told farmers to assigned to do household chores. So village children do not
collect gobor (cow dung), vegetable’s extra roots, daily get the proper opportunity for higher education, while food
waste foods, gasher chapa (peat) in a specific place to make is not available for the household level. When the village
compost fertilizer. The sources of organic fertilizers are the chronic poverty and food insecurity completing higher
field where livestock pasture around, the livestock shelter, education is a dream. But some families who can bear the
animal waste from slaughterhouses, plant waste from afford education sent their children Sadar college and
slaughterhouses, plant waste from agriculture. In previous Rangpur for higher education.
days, farmers collect cow dung and animal use to make
natural fertilizer. The farmer leaves the root of the crop in T. LOCAL WATER POLITICS
the field for making the fertilizer. Kacha pata, chai all are Local hydro politics is related to village politics. Water
used for natural fertilizer. is the major necessity for crop production. Those lands of
Tatipara is near to the river, they get much access to river
Q. CHEMICAL FERTILIZER water. But those lands are in a much distance of river remain
As the land grade and size are both low and small, to depend on the shallow machine and (locally called boding
farmers have to cultivate in a good manner for harvesting a machine). They purchase water by the hour. They have to
large amount of crop for gaining economic solvency. buy diesel for purchasing a motor for irrigation. Those who

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
can bear afford this cost get much water for irrigation. Here V. CONCLUSION
influential and rich (who have a huge amount of land and
capital) get priority overall small adiyar (small farmer). In Tatipara people live in a world of deprivation of
this Tatipara village, Nayeb Ali, those who have much more information and live in vulnerability and insecurity in many
capital and land can purchase water property than poor and senses. Their indigenous knowledge helps them in many
small farmers in the season of irrigation. The location of the ways to survive in such a condition. This study also reveals
field is also necessary. If the first place location is not that the continuous extortion of stones and the barrage of the
permitting passing water, the next field holder faces trouble. Teesta river causing damage to the environment of the
Water scarcity makes them quarrel, sometimes cases are Teesta riverside area. Tatipara women face challenges in
filed against them on Thana. managing food crises during floods and drought time
majorly because of the intersectional factors.
U. NATURAL VULNERABILITIES
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