Bangladeshi fishers and farmers speak out against big coal and gas

Photography by Auvro Alam

By Market Forces

March 16^th, 2023

Massive Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) power plants and terminals are being built on a remote island in the Chattogram coastal region of southeastern Bangladesh used by thousands of families for livestock, fish and salt farming. Despite soaring costs of gas, the expansion plans are being pushed by major Japanese and US companies such as General Electric, Mitsui and JERA.

Bangladeshis living in the area say these fossil fuel projects are compounding climate-fuelled devastation faced by hundreds of thousands of people, including families of fisherfolk and farmers, who have lost their livelihoods due to the construction of a huge coal power plant.

Ismail Pasha fishes for a living. His wife, children and extended family rely on his income to survive. Ismail is looking for options to earn a living and is terrified for his future as he is losing his livelihood due to the proposed massive Moheskhali LNG plant, which would wipe out local fish farming and salt production. “Only landowners will be compensated. Us fisherfolk will get nothing,” says Ismail.

Bangladeshi fishers and farmers speak out against big coal and gas

Nine-year-old Sohel Rana* carries lunch for his father and other family members, who are farming salt in the dry season along with fish and shrimp during the rainier months. More than 70,000 farmers in the Cox’s Bazaar region of southeastern Bangladesh produce around 95 per cent of the country’s salt.

Sohel and his family are worried for their future, as their salt farming and fishing livelihoods are in jeopardy due to major coal and LNG projects in their areas compounding the growing harsh impacts of climate change.

Sakib Ali* farms salt from areas adjacent to the Matarbari coal and major gas projects which are threatening his livelihood. Each day in peak seasons, more than 10,000 metric tons of salt is produced on average to be transported first to loading areas, then on for further processing. Sakib said he would always find a way to provide for his family.

Construction of coal and gas power plants and other infrastructure, including LNG terminals, is going full steam ahead. Meanwhile tens of thousands of people who rely on fishing and salt farming are living on the edge of catastrophe, as environmental impacts from the power projects compound an ever harsher climate.

Rohima Begum lost her home after severe erosion of the embankment caused by the coal power plant’s construction at Matarbari. Now she is living with her son’s family. Her new house was also damaged by Super Cyclone Yaas in May, 2021. Rohima worries night and day about making a better future for her children after having to change her livelihood due to relocating her family.

Rohima’s daughter, Nishpa is sometimes worried but remains hopeful even though her home is falling apart due to impacts from the coal power plant construction project.

For as long as he can remember, Abu Taleb has been fishing for a living. Yet in the coming months, 60-year-old Abu fears his livelihood will disappear in the smoke and haze of the new coal and gas power projects underway in his Chattogram region of south eastern Bangladesh. Despite the threats, Abu Taleb says he will fish for the rest of his days.

Each day and every week, fisherfolk from the Chattogram region say they count their fish and their catch is becoming smaller. It is harder to make a living to feed their families as polluting fossil fuel projects and a harsher climate are fuelling more intense cyclones and rising sea levels.

The Matarbari coal plant’s construction filled up and narrowed the local Kohelia river, resulting in more than 2,000 fisherfolk losing their livelihoods. Community members say they are still seeking full compensation for the loss of their homes and livelihoods near the site.

Coal and gas projects have forced hundreds of families to relocate to another area in Chattogram and elsewhere in the country. Tens of thousands of people migrate to major cities each month to escape climate impacts such as rising sea levels and tropical storms.

“I graze buffaloes during monsoon and do whatever work is available to me. These lands have been acquired. What will I do to feed my family in the future? We have been told many times we will get compensation, but we have not received any,” says Mohammad Redwan. The site faces the construction of a major new LNG-based power project.

Hamid Hossain is a salt and fish farmer, who owns a small parcel of land in the Chattogram region of south eastern Bangladesh. Hamid’s home and farming land are being acquired for the proposed Matarbari onshore gas terminal at Dhalghata.

“Our homestead and salt and fish farms fall in the area being acquired for the LNG Terminal. What will we do now?” asks Hamid.

“They want to build these projects on our lands, but don’t provide employment for local community members. If need be, we’ll give our lives, but we won’t compromise with them [the project proponents].” Hamid is worried about the black smoke the coal power plant turbine will emit, growing pollution and adverse impacts of LNG projects near his home.