Livelihood Status of Fishermen of the Old Brahmaputra River, Bangladesh

The present study was conducted to assess the livelihood status of fishing community of the old Brahmaputra River from April to August, 2010. Data were collected through the use of well-structured questionnaire from the selected area. Most of the fishermen were belonged to the age groups of 31 to 40 years (50.00%), represented by 95% Muslim. Over 70% of the fishermen primary occupation was fishing, 20% was engaged in agriculture and 10% in daily labour activities. About 2% of the fishermen were only could write name while 88%, 10% and 0% of the fishermen were illiterate, primary and secondary level of education respectively. About 60% of the fishermen received health service from village doctors, 30% from upazila health complex and remaining 10% got health service from MBBS (Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae) doctors. About 60% of the fishermen used kancha while 10% used semi-paka and 30% of the fishers had no sanitary toilet facilities. Around 40% fishermen used their own tube-well, 50% used shared tube-well and remaining 10% used neighbors tube-well for drinking water purpose. The government provides no kind of Vulnerable Group Feeding cards for them in those areas. Lack of scientific knowledge, illiteracy and lack of government support were the major constraints. As for it, most of them are getting fishing facilities like boat, net, credit from Mahajan. They were the poorest of the poor in the society and they have no alternative livelihood options to earn their bread other than fishing in the area.