Sharmin Shara Mim, Green Blogger

The exquisite vista of Haor (seasonal wetland) attracts people to plan their getaway there. During rainy season the Haor itself a bewitching beauty. Sitting at the edge of trawler (engine driven boat) splashing feet at water and looking far is best way to delve into oneself. One cloudy day of autumn me and my father headed towards to explore the Haor  at my neighborhood.

Flip side of tranquil water in Haor

The reveling journey turned out pale while we mingled with naive peoples who live there. We were hearing the sufferings of those people while this water interferes their life and livelihoods.

Krisna Barman a farmer in Haor area was expressing their suffering by telling that “ Every year earthen embankment erode and water reach near to us in our home.”

Flash flood is very predominant in Haor region due to its unique geographical location.  Abrupt water flow from upstream and incessant rainfall cause flash flood in Haor region . Haor has monocropping pattern and  the Boro is the main crop of Haor region which  is cultivated  from October to April.

Flash flood in 2017 at Haor

In 2017 peoples could not harvested their crops due to flash flood. Some people could harvest little amount of crops and some lost whole crops. According to Network for information, Response And Preparedness Activities on Disaster report, Fully damaged agricultural land 219,840 hectares in six districts of Haor as well as loss of 213,95 metric tons fish production in the four districts of Haor. Agriculture and fisheries is the mainstay of Haor dwellers, destruction of these lynchpin livelihoods had positioned Haor dwellers at bay.

Is migration one way route to resiliency?

Lack of skill, access to resources are main culprit of their vulnerability. Peoples were burdened by loan of influential people, banks. At that time, people migrate to nearby district or city like Dhaka to search for hope to live. Sometimes family members migrate and choose rickshaw pulling, garment working as livelihood and live a lonely life in cities to support their family.

Lifeline could be life threatening:

Water is lifeblood of Haor to sustain its shimmering beauty and life of thousands people, unique flora and fauna. On the other hand, this water is fierce and devours rapaciously the beauty, the tranquility. Lifeline could be life threatening sometimes.

About the Author: An amateur writer in her leisure time, Sharmin Shara Mim is currently working at BRAC Institute of Educational Development, combining her passion for communication and facilitation. She has been engaged in youth capacity building since her university years. In that pursuit, she has done two internships on youth capacity building and climate change. She has written a short story anticipating climate change impact on earth titled “Ice Age”. She also believes in youth leadership role to have positive impact on earth. She has been awarded the young change maker titled “Rising Star” by Wedu global. She is also a youth member of YOUNGO- Children and Youth Constituency to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Her main areas of interest include youth, climate change, disaster management and conservation communication. She has completed her undergraduate academic degree in Disaster and Human Security Management from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Bangladesh.