Women fishermen of Patuakhali district have come to Tentulia River in search of livelihood. A women angler Minu (60) can be seen throwing a net in the river with a dirty face and hardened hands. The boat moves at its own speed with the pull of the current. A girl is holding a seat in her small hand. She left the seat again and caught the net in her small hand. The girl's name is Asma, who is only 12. Even though she was supposed to be in school at this age, she also had to enroll in the struggle for livelihood.
Even if she does not know how to count the clock, this girl from Manta village can calculate the time of fishing by watching the tide. Mother and daughter are casting their nets on the banks of the river Tentulia. At the end of the tide, they will return to the pier to raise the net. The fire will burn in the hearth with the money of selling the fish of fortune's net. This is how Minu's life goes on struggling in the river boat.
Minara Begum Minu, who is uncompromising in the battle of life, said that her parents were also fishermen. Mother Anwara Begum died when Minu was at the age of 2 and father Muslim Sardar died at her age of 5. Minu used to work in boat fishing with his uncle and aunt ever since she understood. She got married at the age of 13. A year later, the first child was born. 9 children came in one by one. Three sons and three daughters are already married. They also catch fish in the river. They live in different boats. Their family consists of husband Anshar Hossain alias Anchu Sardar, one son and one daughter. After years, their lives are spent on boats. The battle of life is going on with the storm of Tetulia river.
Expressing her anger, Minara Begum Minu said, "We don't have a house, we live by fishing. I heard that the government will give us a house. But our name is not in the list.”
Not only Minu, but two almost half a hundred women living on boats in Bagi Canal of Kalaia Union of Bauphal Upazila of Patuakhali are struggling in the river. For about 50 years, about two hundred women, men and children have been living a floating life in more than half a hundred boats in Bagi Canal. Their identity in society is Manta (fisherman) community. Although some of them have houses, most of the families do not have houses or land. Birth, death, life, livelihood, happiness and sadness are all mixed up in the boats floating on the canals.
All the children born in this Manta village have to join hands in earning the family since they understand. School, books, notebooks, pens, studies, are like fairy tales to the children of Manta Palli. They know that children their age study, go to school madrasa. But they don't go there as fate does not allow them to do so.
As per custom, girls are given in marriage between 12 and 16 years of Manta Palli. The groom is also the child of some fishermam. After marriage, the struggling life started anew in a new boat. The pastime of the women of Manta Palli is leisurely cooking and eating together with the whole family. And the festival is the organization of wedding ceremony in their own community. From generation to generation, no government or private institution has stood by the struggling life of the daughters and mothers of Manta Palli.
Kalaiya Union Parishad Chairman SM Faisal Ahmed said that not everyone in Manta village is a Kalaiya voter. Government assistance is given to those who are Kalaiya voters. Listed at UNO office for shelter project houses.
When contacted upazila women's vice chairperson Mariam Akhter Nisu to find out what can be done by the Upazila Parishad for the development of the women of Manta village, she said that the matter is under our attention, we will highlight the issue in the monthly coordination meeting of the Upazila Parishad and determine what should be done so that the quality of life of the women of Manta village can be improved. We can play an active role in development.'
Upazila Women's Affairs Officer Jasmine Akhtar said, "We will arrange workshops and training very soon to increase the awareness and improve the quality of life of the women of the backward Manta village.
In this regard, Upazila Executive Officer Al Amin said that initiatives have been taken to resettle the people living in Manta village to the mainstream. In the first phase, 27 families will be given government furnished houses. will be arranged. The rest will also get houses gradually.
