Thousands of female fishermen along the Bhola  coast have long been excluded from government benefits, despite their  essential contributions to the fishing industry.  Photo: BSS

By Al-Amin Shahriar

BHOLA, March 9, 2026 (BSS) - Thousands of female fishermen along the Bhola 
coast have long been excluded from government benefits, despite their 
essential contributions to the fishing industry. 

These women, who risk their lives in the sea and rivers for their livelihood, 
are not officially recognized in the state's official fishing lists.

The lack of recognition has resulted in their being deprived of various state 
benefits, leaving many of these women struggling to make ends meet. This has 
led to increasing calls for the recognition of women fishermen, with the 
demand to include them in the government's fisherman registration process and 
issue fishing cards on an equal basis with their male counterparts.

Bhola is a district comprising several islands and is surrounded by various 
rivers and seas such as Meghna, Tetulia, Kalabadar, Ilisha, Betua, and 
Buragouranga. Fishing is a predominant occupation in these areas, and among 
the many fishermen, a large number are women who carry out the work alongside 
men. 

These women, often known as "women fishermen," spend countless hours on the 
rivers, braving harsh weather conditions and dangers of the water, yet remain 
without any official government identity or state recognition.

Despite their crucial role, these women remain excluded from government 
schemes, as they are not recognized as fishermen under the official list. 
Consequently, they are unable to receive support such as government subsidies 
or fishing cards, unlike their male counterparts.

Kulsum Begum, a 60-year-old woman fisherman living in a boat at the Tulatuli 
fishing ghat in Bhola Sadar, shared her hardship. She has been fishing for a 
living alongside her husband for decades but has not received any government 
assistance. 

"At what age will I get a fisherman card, and will I ever receive government 
assistance?" she lamented. "I want to build a small house above the river to 
avoid the constant soaking in rain and sun."

Rashida Begum, 55, who has spent her life fishing from a boat in the Rajapur 
Jorakhal area, expressed her frustration. "I was born in a boat. Since 
childhood, I've been fishing to feed my family. But the government doesn't 
even recognize us. We get no fishing cards or government aid. We live in the 
river with our children. It would be better if the government cared for us 
now."

Fishermen's leaders in the area have echoed the demands for state 
recognition. Mohammad Ershad Ullah, organizing secretary of the Bhola 
District Small Fishermen's Association, emphasized that approximately 3,000 
women in Bhola are involved in the fishing profession, alongside men. 

However, these women have not yet been included in the government's fishermen 
registration list. "If they remain excluded, these women will continue to 
miss out on essential state benefits," he stated. "It's important to bring 
them into the registration system to ensure equal treatment."

In response to these concerns, the Bhola District Fisheries Officer and Sadar 
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) have pledged to take steps to recognize and 
include women fishermen in the registration process.

Iqbal Hossain, Bhola District Fisheries Officer, confirmed that future 
registration efforts would prioritize female fishermen, who would also be 
given a permanent address for the first time. "We will ensure that female 
fishermen are included in the upcoming registration process," Hossain stated. 
"We also plan to support 400 families through the special food allocation for 
fishermen this year," he added.

Bilkis Jahan Munmun, coordinator of the Durbar Women's Movement, a voluntary 
organization in Bhola, has also advocated for the inclusion of women 
fishermen in the government's benefit programmes. 

"Women fishermen in Bhola's lowland areas have always been overlooked when it 
comes to government incentives," she said, adding, "It is high time they are 
recognized as equal contributors to the fishing industry."

Bhola Sadar UNO Md. Arifuzzaman told BSS that the government plans to include 
women fishermen in the new list when it is made. "We will bring women from 
the Manta community and other women fishermen in Bhola into the registration 
process. They will receive all kinds of government assistance on a priority 
basis," he affirmed.