Sachchida Nanda Dey Saday, Ashashuni (Satkhira) 

Continuous rainfall over the past several days has brought much-needed water to the rivers, canals, and wetlands of Ashashuni in Satkhira. With the onset of the monsoon, once-dried water bodies are coming back to life, breathing new hope into the lives of the neglected fishing communities who depend on them. After months of drought and salinity, hundreds of unemployed fisher families are now returning to their traditional livelihood—casting nets in rivers and canals, catching fish, and smiling once more.

Over the past few years, major rivers in Ashashuni such as the Kopotakkho, Morichchap, Betna, and Kholpetua—and their tributaries—saw drastically reduced water flow, leading to a severe decline in fish population. This pushed local fishers into extreme hardship. 

Many had to turn to alternative occupations such as construction work, rickshaw pulling, or van driving to survive. However, with this year’s early monsoon and consistent rains, the rivers have swelled again, creating a favorable environment for fishing. The fishers say, "This is our true season."“We are river people; the river is our lifeline,” says Jonok Mondal, a senior fisher from Kulla village. “We were idle for three months. Now we’re catching fish every day. There’s rice and lentils at home again. Our children are smiling.”Shiuli Mondal, a female fisher from Pratapnagar, echoed the same sentiment: “This season brings abundance of fish—shrimp, golda, shing, tengra, and khalsha. The prices at the market are also good.”Currently, areas like Khajra, Shriula, Anulia, Budhhata, and Pratapnagar are buzzing with activity.

 Fishers head out every morning and evening—some placing traps, others casting nets. Makeshift fish markets are popping up in the downstream areas. The monsoon season not only helps revive the livelihoods of fishers but also increases the supply of local fish in the market, contributing to the regional economy.However, the fishing communities point out that they cannot rely on monsoon waters alone. They are calling for river dredging, canal excavation, and long-term measures to maintain water flow. They also urge the government to increase monitoring and conservation efforts to preserve aquatic resources and river health.

The Ashashuni Upazila Fisheries Officer stated that while monsoon fishing brings short-term relief, sustainable development of fisher livelihoods requires long-term planning. “We are working on providing training, equipment, and support to local fishers.

 Increased fish production during monsoon benefits the broader economy as well,” he said.As Sushanta Mondal put it, “The monsoon has brought more than water—it has brought new hope to Ashashuni’s rivers and wetlands.” Once jobless and desperate, fishing families are now regaining the courage to rebuild. But to make this hope last, well-planned management and sustainable river conservation are urgently needed.