Co esponding au ho : Asi Ibne Azi
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License 4.0.
Assessing he li ing condi ions o ishe man communi y as low-income housing: A
Case S udy o Pi ai iko Village, Fenchuganj, Sylhe
Asi Ibne Azi * and Salina Ak he
Depa men o A chi ec u e, Facul y o Mode n Sciences, Leading Uni e si y, Sylhe -3112, Bangladesh.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(02), 1483-1492
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 03 Ap il 2025; e ised on 09 May 2025; accep ed on 11 May 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wja .2025.26.2.1833
Abs ac
A s udy was conduc ed among he Pi ai iko illage nea he Kushia a Ri e and he Hakaluki Hao ishe men in he
Fenchuganj a ea o Sylhe , Bangladesh. The ishe man communi y comp ises indi iduals o amilies whose p ima y
sou ce o income o subsis ence is ishing. The objec i e o his s udy was o iden i y and p esen hei li ing condi ions,
house o ms, and se lemen pa e ns. The s udy e ealed he con en ional and inadequa e way o li e among u al
ishe men. To imp o e hei li ing condi ions, he s udy aimed o elucida e he oppo uni ies, coping s a egies, and
challenges associa ed wi h li elihood in his communi y. Using a mixed-me hods app oach in ol ing obse a ions,
su eys in e iews, ield, and li e a u e e iews, a semi-s uc u ed ques ionnai e was employed o in e iew a o al o
50 ishe men chosen andomly om he s udy egion. Ul ima ely, by ocusing on speci ic in e en ions o enhance he
well-being o he ishe man communi y in Sylhe , his esea ch con ibu es o a deepe unde s anding o he socio-
economic dynamics o ha communi y.
Keywo ds: Fishe men Communi y; Housing; Se lemen pa e ns; Kushia a Ri e ; Pi ai iko Village
1. In oduc ion
Bangladesh is known as a i e ine coun y because i has a lo o i e s. The coun y's wa e ways, which span an
app oxima e 22,155 km, a e o med by his i e and i s ibu a ies and dis ibu a ies. Abou 1.78 million people can
ind ull- ime and pa - ime wo k in his sec o [1]. Fish and ishe ies a e an essen ial componen o he popula ion,
pa icula ly in Bangladesh and hey a e c ucial o he coun y's socioeconomic g ow h. Bangladesh is one o he op ish-
p oducing na ions in he wo ld, wi h 32.62 MT o ish p oduced o e all in he 2011–2012 iscal yea [2]. Addi ionally,
his indus y p o ides oughly 60% o he coun y's animal p o ein in ake and 19% o all he p o ein consumed in an
a e age Bangladeshi die [8].
Fishing and C op cul i a ion a e he wo main sou ces o income o Bangladeshi ishe men. All ishe men, howe e ,
ely on ishing as hei p ima y sou ce o income. Fishe men ha e his o ically been Hindus. When hei labo in he
ields was no needed, hey wo ked as boa men, ishe men, o house builde s. The e a e 23 dis inc cas es o Hindu
ishe men in Assam and Eas e n Bengal. Kaiba as, kewa , ka i a, iwa o ajbangshi, das shika i, malo o jhalo,
namasud as o chandals, be ua, jiani, ka al, pod, bind o bindu, bagdi, pa ni, nadial, mali, ha i, gon hi, banpa , gango a,
mu a i, su ahiya, and lohai a e among hem. Muslims ypically pa icipa ed in ishing- ela ed ac i i ies like ca ying
and ading ish. The main Muslim g oups in Bangladesh who wo k as ishe men o in simila ields a e called
mahe a osh o mahimals ( he Pe sian wo d mahi means ish and a osh means endo ), dala ya, nika i, gu ia jelia, jiani,
dhawa, abdal, and bebajya [3]. Sylhe , loca ed in he no heas e n egion o Bangladesh, is enowned o i s ib an
cul u e and di e se communi ies. Among hese communi ies, he ishe man popula ion plays a signi ican ole in he
socio-economic ab ic o he egion. The numbe o Sylhe mahimals is 35,195, o which 17556 a e male and 17,639 a e
emale. The Dom and Pa ni cas es a e e e ed o as Nadials. Thei job is o ca ch ish and p epa e ne s, dam, cha i, chach,
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(02), 1483-1492
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e c. Pa nis also do boa wo k. Pa nis a e no a mode n cas e. Al hough Dom and Pa ni a e basically he same cas e, Pa nis
eel shy o iden i y hemsel es as Dom. Thei numbe is 73246, o which 37168 a e men and 36078 a e women. Ri e s
like Kushia a, Su ma, Bibiana, Dhaleswa i e c. ca ch a lo o hilsa e e y yea . Besides, many ypes o ish a e a ailable
such as Ghania, Gaja , Shaul, Kanla, Pabia, Bacha, Bain, Magu , Kai, Cheng, P awn (Icha), Rani, Teng a, Pun i e c. "Tige
ish" o Ghagha a e e y la ge in size. No less han eigh people can ca y i , e en ige s o such la ge size a e caugh .
Hindus do no ea ish such as ige ish, gaja , naninda and ho n ish [4].
The p ima y sou ce o income o he ishe men's household nex o he i e is ishing. Ne e heless, socie al,
echnological, and economic limi a ions p e en he ishe men om e ec i ely ca ching ish. As a esul , he ishe men's
socioeconomic ci cums ances a e no ideal. They a e unable o make enough money o co e hei basic expenses [5].
The communi y o ishe men is hough o be among he mos ulne able g oups in e ms o employmen p ospec s [6].
Many con eniences a e denied o he majo i y o ishe men. Because hey cons an ly s uggle o su i e, he ishing
communi y's s anda d o li ing is comple ely unsa is ac o y [7].
The e o e, A ishe man's li es yle is amazing and challenging. They a e always wo king o ca ch ish o he communi y
and make a li ing. Despi e he ac ha hey a e gene ally e y poo , ishe men ha e inc edibly in elligen hea s. They
li e hand o mou h because hey a e so poo . I is a eally challenging job. Howe e , despi e hei impo ance, he socio-
economic condi ions o ishe men in Sylhe emain unde explo ed. In his s udy, he housing si ua ion o he Fishe man
communi y in Sylhe , Bangladesh, will be clea ly illus a ed.
2. Aim and Objec i es
This s udy aims o assess he p esen s a e o ishe men's u ili y and communi y se ice acili ies and analyze he li ing
condi ions o housing ameni ies. This esea ch will assis policymake s in o mula ing a u u e de elopmen s a egy
o he neighbo hood o any analogous low-income housing egion.
3. Me hodology
Be ween Julys o Decembe 2021, A p elimina y ield su ey was ca ied ou among he Pi ai iko nea Kushia a Ri e
ishe men in he Sylhe , Bangladesh. Fu he mo e, du ing he li e a u e e iew phase, seconda y da a sou ces like
jou nals, newspape s, books and magazines we e ca e ully examined. A o al o 50 ishe man om he andomly chosen
s udy egion we e in e iewed. Fo he s udy, p ima y da a we e ga he ed. The p ima y da a we e ga he ed using ocus
g oups, in e iews, ques ionnai es, and obse a ion. A semi- s uc u ed ques ionnai e was c ea ed p io o ga he ing
he p ima y da a, and i was la e co ec ed as needed. Ga he ed da a by going o he si e epea edly du ing he su ey
ime. Age, amily ype and size, eligion, ma i al s a us, educa ion le els, housing condi ions, heal h se ices, al e na i e
occupa ions, access o sani a ion and d inking wa e , income, access o elec ici y, access o ood and nu i ion in ake,
and o he signi ican socioeconomic ac o s we e all inqui ed abou om he ishe men. A e ga he ed he in o ma ion,
i was compiled and allied. Mic oso Excel was used o analyze he abula ed da a in he end.
4. S udy A ea
4.1. Si e Loca ion
Figu e 1 S udy A ea Loca ion
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Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 2 Land use Plan
Figu e 3 G eene y Plan
4.2. Si e De ails
Pi ai iko is a illage unde Sylhe dis ic , Fenchuganj Upazila, si ua ed 30 kilome e s away om he ci y o Sylhe . The
illage is unde Wo d No. 01 o he local a ea adminis a ion. Pi ai iko co e s a o al a ea o 28.5 ac es and is inhabi ed
p edominan ly by he ishing communi y, who su i e based on ishing alone. The illage has a ound 1,050 houses wi h
a combined popula ion o nea ly 8,000 indi iduals. T anspo a ion in Pi ai iko is mainly done by ca s and boa s since
i is close o wa e bodies. The e a e no heal h acili ies in he illage; he closes hospi al is app oxima ely 3 kilome e s
away. Fo educa ion, he e is one p ima y school and a seconda y school. The dominan eligion among he illage s is
Muslim, and he e a e wo mosques ha se e he eligious pu poses o he illage s.
4.3. Si e Su oundings
Pi ai iko illage is su ounded by ou su ounding illages: Goyashil, Bagma a, Lamagongapu and So ish. Goyashil
and So ish we e o me ly included in Pi ai iko illage. O e ime, wi h adminis a i e and e i o ial eo ganiza ion,
hese places slowly sepa a ed and eme ged as independen illages. Goyashil was ini ially a pa o eas e n Pi ai iko
and So ish was a pa o he wes e n pa o i . Despi e being sepa a ed, hese illages ha e in ima e geog aphical,
cul u al, and communal ela ions.
5. Field Su ey and indings
In his illage, he popula ion is sp ead in a ious age g oups; 15% o he popula ion is aged be ween 20 yea s and
below, 50% be ween 20 o 40 yea s, 30% be ween 41 o 60 yea s and 5% abo e 60 yea s. The e a e wo kinds o amilies
in his illage; he nuclea amilies wi h 60% o he o al amilies and he join amilies wi h he 40% p opo ion. When
i comes o amily size, he la ges pe cen age 50% o amilies a e 7 and 8 membe s in numbe . 4 o 6 membe amilies
a e 30%, while 10 o 12 membe s ake up 15%. The lowes numbe s, making up 5% o amilies, a e hose wi h o e 12
membe s. App oxima ely 30% o he ishe men ha e s a ed ha hei daily ishing income anges om 150 o 350 aka.
Whe eas 50% ha e s a ed ha hey ea n be ween 350 o 550 aka pe day, he es o he 20% o he ishe men ha e
s a ed ha hei pe day income anges om 550 o 800 aka.
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5.1. Housing Facili ies
In his s udy, Va ious ypes o housing schemes and hei ele an de ails will be p esen ed. I is well known ha se e al
amilies combine and sha e a house in his illage. This inc eases he popula ion densi y o he a ea. Each o he ypes
o houses desc ibed will p o ide some enume a ion in he o m o ; Numbe o amily membe s, Occupa ions, Numbe
o ishe men, Educa ion le els, Daily income. Because o he lack o space, small houses a e o en occupied by ex ended
amilies and including many o he new gene a ion. Join amilies end o ace eno mous di icul y managing daily
domes ic ac i i ies in an o e c owded space. Imp o ing he su ounding li ing condi ions g ea ly imp o es he need
o p ope housing plans and adequa e acili ies o aid he de elopmen o li ing condi ions.
5.2. House Type: 01
In his house plan, ou independen amilies unde one oo in his home design, which holds 24 people. Fishing is he
common sou ce o li elihood among he inhabi an s, whe e six wo king ishe men li e he e. The educa ional le el in
he locali y is up o p ima y le el, and he a e age e e yday income o each indi idual anges be ween 250 and 500
akas. The p esen esiden ial condi ion is ha o absolu e conges ions wi hou he p esence o a well-planned layou o
he house. Limi ed mo emen o he house h ough an ex emely na ow co ido . The house is basically composed o
in shee s and he bamboo pa i ions ep esen ing he esou ce cons ain and una ailabili y o pe manen ma e ial.
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 4 Exis ing condi ion o a house (House Plan 01)
Sani a ion condi ions a e ex emely poo ; he e a e no a ached oile s. The inhabi an s ins ead u ilize imp o ised,
unhygienic oile s ou side he house, cons uc ed om nylon bags and in shee s. Du ing he ainy season, i becomes
e en mo e di icul and dange ous o each hese oile s since hey ha e o go h ough muddy, slippe y pa hs. The house
i sel is cons uc ed o delica e ma e ials such as bamboo and in and sec ions o i a e now collapsing because o yea s
o neglec and exposu e o he elemen s.
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Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 5 Exis ing condi ion o a house (House Plan 01)
5.3. House Plan 02
The household consis s o i e membe s, one o whom is a ishe man. The educa ional le el o he amily is up o he
seconda y le el. The a e age daily income o he ishe man anges om 550 o 700 Taka. In ega ds o he equipmen
u ilized while ishing, he does no own a boa and elies on jus one ne o his li elihood.
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 6 Exis ing condi ion o a house (House Plan 02)
5.4. House Plan 03
The membe s o he amily a e i een in numbe and ou o he membe s a e in ol ed in ishing as hei main ac i i y.
The educa ion o he membe s o he amily anges om p ima y o seconda y. Each o he ishe men ea ns 350 o 600
Taka on a e age pe day. They ha e a boa and ne s o he ishing p o ession.
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Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 7 Exis ing condi ion o a house (House Plan 03)
5.5. House Plan 04
The household size is en, and h ee membe s a e engaged in he ishing p o ession. The educa ion le el o he amily is
up o he p ima y le el. All he ishe men a e ea ning be ween 250 o 450 Taka on a e age pe day. They ha e a boa
and ne s o conduc hei ishing ac i i ies o make hei li ing.
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 8 Exis ing condi ion o a house (House Plan 04)
5.6. House Plan 05
The household has nine een membe s, and i e o he membe s wo k as ishe men. The educa ion le el o he household
membe s is up o p ima y and seconda y. Thei ea nings as ishe men a e 150 o 800 Taka on a daily basis o each
ishe man. In e ms o ishing gea , he e a e no boa s and hey only ely on ne s o ishing.
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Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 9 Exis ing condi ion o a house (House Plan 05)
5.7. House Types
The pa e n o house indica es he social s a us o he people. Houses in his illage a e no o he same ype. I was
obse ed ha 60% households o he ishe men ha e in made house ei he oo was made wi h ha ch o in. 30%
houses we e b ick wall and in made oo . 6% houses we e b ick wall and RCC made oo . 4% households o he
ishe men ha e ea hen house ei he oo was made wi h ha ch o in. In he majo i y o he houses, a po ion is
damaged bu due o a lack o money, he house dwelle s a e no able o epai hem.
-
Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 10 Di e en ypes o houses
5.8. Sani a y Facili ies
Toile s o 40% o he popula ion consis o ea hen pi s whose walls a e cons uc ed o nylon bags. Bamboo and in walls
cons i u e he oile s o ano he 40%. B ick walls cons i u e he oile s o almos 15% o he popula ion. The e is no
oile acili y o he es 5%. O e all, hei sani a condi ions a e no hygienic.
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Sou ce: Au ho
Figu e 11 O e all sani a y condi ion
5.9. D inking Wa e Facili ies
Sa e and pu e d inking wa e supply is conside ed one o he mos highly alued acili ies in he communi y. Mos o he
ishe men we e no ed o depend on ube-well wa e o consump ion, ei he om communi y ube-wells o hei own
ube-wells.
5.10. Heal h Facili ies
The heal h acili ies o he ishe men we e no sa is ac o y a all. The heal h acili ies o he ishe men we e no good
and i was ound ha 30% o he ishe men amilies depended on illage doc o s who had no idea and p ope knowledge
abou medical science. 55% o he ishe men ecei ed heal h se ice om Upazila hospi al. The es 15% om Dis ic
hospi al.
5.11. Elec ici y Facili ies
The majo i y o he popula ion, a ound 85%, use elec ici y, while 12% use sola ene gy. The emaining popula ion has
no access o elec ici y o sola ene gy and s ill elies on oil lamps o ligh ing pu poses.
5.12. Educa ion Facili y
The illage's educa ional in as uc u e is inadequa e. Basic educa ion om Class One o Class Fi e is cu en ly o e ed
by he only ope a ional p ima y lea ning cen e , Pi ai iko Go e nmen P ima y School. Fu he mo e, Kasim Ali Model
High School is a ecen ly opened seconda y ins i u ion. Howe e , because he school is s ill in he planning s ages o i s
es ablishmen , he eaching p ocess has no ye begun
5.13. Occupa ional S a us
Nea ly 80% o he ishe men a e engaged in ishing as hei main occupa ion and he o he 20% a e occupied in o he
ac i i ies. Apa om ha , hey also engaged in c op p oduc ion, ish ading, small businesses o wo k as a day labo e
du ing o -season.
5.14. Communi y Se ice Facili y
In Pi ai iko he e a e a lo o people who canno e en ha e hei daily ood because o po e y. Some amily ga e hei
child en o o phanage because hey canno a o d hei expense. Then he o he people o his a ea help hem wi h
wha e e hey can gi e. The child en o his a ea play in he school playg ound. Muslim popula ions cons i u e he
majo i y o he popula ion in he s udy e i o y. Two mosques a e si ua ed wi hin he communi y.
5.15. Monsoon Flood Condi ions
The lood si ua ion in Fenchuganj upazila o he dis ic de e io a ed u he , lea ing 30,000 people o 25 illages in i e
unions ma ooned. The Kushia a Ri e was lowing 118 cm abo e he dange le el a Fenchuganj Baza June 20, 2018
said sou ces a he local Wa e De elopmen Boa d o ice. Locals said Baghma a, Pi ai iko , Chha is, U a Islampu ,
Monu uk, KM Tilla, Fenchuganj Madhya Baza , Na h Colony, In az Ali Residen ial A ea and Paschim Baza Residen ial
A ea wen unde wa e due o he lood caused by hea y ain and on ush om he ups eam [9].
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6. Resul and Discussion
The cu en s a us o ishe men in and a ound Pi ai iko is medioc e in gene al e ms. Mos o he ishe men lack basic
ameni ies and a e exclusi ely elian on i e ine esou ces o hei subsis ence. Thei socio-economic s a us is agile,
as hey encoun e se e al issues in hei daily li e. One o he mos signi ican e ela ions is he absence o p ope
housing acili ies. A majo i y o he ishe men eside in poo ly buil homes wi h no p o ision o basic in as uc u e.
Absence o public spaces and poo oads u he compounds he isola ion o hese communi ies om basic se ices.
Economic down u n in he ishing business has also compelled some o he ishe men o look o al e na i e p o ession,
which u he s ains hei al eady ulne able li elihood. Mo eo e , he Pi ai iko ishe men lack sani a ion acili ies,
d ainage is poo , he e is no educa ion, poo die and less awa eness abou hei own heal h s a us. They ha e almos
ze o basic heal h acili ies, which is p oo o he di e necessi y o a sepa a e heal h cen e o hospi al in he egion o
he enhancemen o hei o e all heal h s a us. To sol e hese a ious p oblems, he s udy ecommends ha he
go e nmen needs o ake p ac ical measu es. Fi s , i needs o p o ide educa ional ins i u ions o empowe he young
gene a ion and emo e po e y om hei li es. Second, a mas e plan needs o be p epa ed exclusi ely o he a ea.
The plan needs o ocus on p ope planning managemen in o de o house he inc easing popula ion and de elop he
a ea in a sys ema ic way wi h p ope acili ies. The e should also be aining and awa eness p og ams o educa e local
ishe men on issues o heal h, hygiene, and sani a ion. The e may be supplemen a ion by NGOs wi h easily a ailable
mic o inance and loans o acili a e he ishe men o in es in be e equipmen and al e na i e li elihoods. I bo h
go e nmen and NGOs make coo dina ed and planned e o s, he p esen condi ions o he ishe men o he Pi ai iko
egion can be imp o ed signi ican ly. Empowe men o he people, in eg a ed planning, in as uc u al de elopmen ,
and awa eness gene a ion a e he only ways o b ing in long- e m sus ainable de elopmen
7. Conclusion
The p esen s a e o he ishe men in Pi ai iko illage is unsa is ac o y. The ishe men a e unable o ob ain he
necessa y numbe o ish o ensu e a subsis ence pay o hei amily, leading o conside able inancial ha dship. The
bulk o ishe men in he ma ke ace se e al p oblems in ishing and ma ke ing hei p oduc s. The p incipal issue was
ecognized as ex o ion by he local pe pe a o ; u he conce ns we e inadequa e c edi acili ies, de icien ma ke ing
esou ces, lack o ishing knowledge, and una ailabili y o app op ia e equipmen . Go e nmen au ho i ies mus ensu e
essen ial igh s, encompassing educa ion, heal h, nu i ion, sani a ion, ishing ules, and aining o he esiden s o
low-income housing like he s udy a ea. Na ional and in e na ional NGOs mus p o ide enough acili ies and o he
li elihood oppo uni ies o ishe men. O he wise, hey canno unc ion e ec i ely, which may impac he whole
economy o Bangladesh.
Compliance wi h e hical s anda ds
Acknowledgmen s
The au ho s a e g a e ul o Tanjima Siddika Chandni, Assis an P o esso , Depa men o A chi ec u e, Leading
Uni e si y, o he guidance. Special hanks o An ik Banik, Is a h Ben a Alam Riya, Nahid Nige and A sana Chowdhu y;
g oupma es in he Housing S udio, Depa men o A chi ec u e, Leading Uni e si y; o hei con ibu ions o he ield
su ey. Thanks also o A i Ibne Azi , a s uden o he Depa men o CSE, Leading Uni e si y, o his assis ance in he
addi ional ield su ey.
Disclosu e o con lic o in e es
Au ho s decla e no con lic s o in e es s.
Re e ences
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In . J. Bioin o m. Res. Appl. 2016;20:2-86.
[2] MARINE S, Dey T, Rashid A, BARMAN P, ISLAM M. Fishing: a p ominen means o li elihood o ishe men on su ma
i e basin a Sylhe dis ic o Bangladesh. In e na ional Jou nal o Animals and Fish Science. 2014;2(1):1-7.
[3] Banglapedia. The Na ional Encyclopedia o Bangladesh; (ci ed 2021 June 17) A ailable om:
h ps://en.banglapedia.o g/index.php/Fishe man
[4] Choudhu y, A.; Book; S eeha e I ib i a (Pu bangsho), A His o y o Sylhe . kolka a: Ko ha. 2009
