Jute processing has brought seasonal employment to around 2,000 day-labourer families living around Chanda Beel in Gopalganj, whose traditional livelihoods from fishing and collecting aquatic resources have declined sharply.
The vast wetland covers around 10,890 hectares across 108.90 square kilometres of Sadar, Muksudpur and Kashiani upazilas in Gopalganj.
Once known for its abundant native fish, water lilies and snails, Chanda Beel supported thousands of families who depended on the wetland for their livelihoods. But climate change, excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides for rice cultivation, and indiscriminate harvesting of fish and aquatic plants have severely depleted these resources.
With fishing opportunities shrinking, many workers are now earning their livelihoods from jute retting, fibre stripping, washing and drying during the monsoon.
The seasonal activities have created jobs for around 2,000 families in at least 20 villages, including Singa, Hatiara and Rahuthor in Kashiani, Ujani, Basudebpur and Barampalta in Muksudpur and Boraibhita, Telibhita and Kalibhita in Gopalganj Sadar.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), jute has been cultivated on 24,859 hectares in Gopalganj this year, with an estimated production target of 50,960 tonnes. The average yield is expected to be 2.05 tonnes per hectare.
Abdul Karim Mia, a jute farmer from Daserhat village in Muksudpur, said he cultivated jute on two acres and achieved a bumper yield. “But there is not enough water in our area for retting jute. So we have to bring it to Chanda Beel for retting, stripping, washing and drying,” he said.
However, he said farmers are struggling because of low market prices. Jute is currently selling for Tk2,800-Tk3,200 per maund, while production and transportation costs remain high.
Dhanindranath Biswas of Singa village said he once depended on fish, water lilies and snails during the monsoon. “Now there are hardly any fish, water lilies or snails in the beel. So I work in jute retting, stripping, washing and drying,” he said. Biswas said he earns Tk1,000-Tk2,000 a day and expects the work to continue until October.
Namita Bala, a fibre-stripping worker from Hatiara, said she strips 100-200 bundles of jute a day and earns Tk5 per bundle. “I can earn Tk500-Tk1,000 a day. At least 1,000 women like me are working here,” she said.
Arbindu Majumder, another worker, said he washes five to six maunds of jute daily and earns around Tk1,500.
Transport workers are also benefiting. Swapan Molla, a three-wheeler driver from Daserhat, said he earns Tk2,500 by transporting 500 bundles of raw jute in one trip and another Tk1,500 by carrying fibre on the return journey.
DAE Gopalganj Deputy Director Dr Md Mamunur Rahman said jute cultivation increased by around 700 hectares this year and rainfall has helped retting. He said workers are earning Tk1,000-Tk2,000 a day, but farmers need better prices. “Farmers would benefit if jute prices rise to Tk4,200 per maund. We will recommend that the government take steps to increase prices,” he said.
