The Future of Sustainability: Have Your Say!

Week Two - “Human Wellbeing and Sustainability”
Comment / Comentario / Commentaire

Zahirul Islam, MarineLife Alliance, Bangladesh

Moderating team: Zahirul Islam argues that society should not blame poverty for resource management problems. The sustainable livelihoods and sustainable management of the coastal resources of Bangladesh are being undermined by powerful elites who are absorbing poor peoples’ current and future income opportunities.

Zahirul Islam afirma que la sociedad no debería culpar a la pobreza por los problemas de manejo de los recursos naturales. Los modos de vida sostenibles y el manejo sostenible de los recursos marinos en Bangladesh están amenazados por poderosas élites que están comprando territorios y poniendo en riesgo la vida de las poblaciones pobres.

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I am really eager to share my views about a very prominent issue in Bangladesh: the poverty engulfing Bangladesh coastal people and many other areas.

The natural state of coastal areas is being rapidly eroded. People often blame poverty for what has happened. But this is not really the case. The government management system is poor. There is no political commitment. Nobody is thinking about the cause of poverty itself. There are many burning issues at the tip of the discussion now, but it is important to understand how these issues have arisen over the last 10 years.

These issues are the creation of the rich man, politician, strong holds, ministers, MPs, landlords, high government officials etc. For example, for their livelihoods Bangladesh coastal communities often forced to rely on destructive shrimp fry collection, cutting of forest trees, harvesting of molluscs, corals, etc. There are no opportunities for the community people of the island Sonadia to fish in the adjacent mangrove since all mangrove area belongs to the powerful for shrimp farming. The community has no access to mangroves and they even have to buy fish for their food although they close to fish habitats. The situation was not like that before: they could fish adjacent their home. Their opportunity has gone to pockets of others and they are forced indirectly to catch in destructive way.

Coastal areas are being rapidly sold to rich people for hotel and shrimp hatchery construction. The communities are loosing the land and opportunities for future activities to sustain livelihoods. But no one is thinking about saving their lands and opportunities for future income from ecotourism and other activities. They even have to leave their land when sold and /or have to encroach upon forest land. This is happening. The Government also patronises this activity by providing support to the rich man.

Thus my view is that rich people are engulfing the poor peoples’ income opportunities. The community was not destructive before. There was situation where the community was living with harmony with nature.

I hope other Asian people with similar problems will agree with my comment.