The silting of the Kohelia River in Matarbari has left many fishermen without a livelihood. Once the lifeblood of the community, the river is now a shadow of its former self.
Bahadur, a fisherman who relied on the Kohelia River for years, shared his plight.
“Like me, many fishermen have lost their means of survival,” he said. Some have resorted to working as day laborers to make ends meet, while others face unemployment.
The river’s silting has disrupted fishing and created a shortage of aquatic resources, affecting the region’s ecological balance. Beyond fishing, the river’s degradation has impacted the area’s water supply, transportation, and agriculture.
The fishermen and residents hope that dredging the river will restore their livelihoods and create new economic opportunities for the community.
By Rajin Saleh
