Rangpur: The growing development of the livestock sector at the household level has brightened the fortunes of hundreds of people living in the riverine chars and riparian areas of the Brahmaputra basin in recent years. Many char inhabitants have achieved self-reliance by raising cows, goats, sheep, and poultry in the sandy char areas, moving away from their previous reliance on relief materials during the dry season and floods.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the livestock sector has been a boon for improving the living standards of char people since the implementation of the 12-year (2004-2016) Comprehensive Char Livelihood Programme (CLP) in 10 northern districts. Under the programme, extremely poor households of Kurigram, Bogura, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Pabna, and Tangail districts received assistance to successfully boost the livestock sector at the family level.
In addition to animal husbandry, the people of chars and riparian areas have conducted other income-generating activities with CLP and other GO-NGO assistance, achieving success and improving their socio-economic conditions. The UK aid through the Department for International Development (DFID), the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the Government of Bangladesh funded the completion of CLP implementation by 2016.
The comprehensive CLP activities aim to eradicate extreme poverty among have-not households through animal husbandry and various income-generating activities to improve their livelihoods, life standards, and socio-economic conditions. Dr. Syed Samsuzzaman, Chairman of the North Bengal Institute of Development Studies, noted that the multidimensional CLP activities were implemented by local partner NGOs in the riverine char islands to achieve these goals.
Md Mamunur Rashid, a PhD Fellow at Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, mentioned that the animal husbandry sector continues expanding rapidly in char areas, bringing prosperity to char people. Char residents are reaping better profits from selling cattle, increasing meat and milk production, and meeting nutritional demands by cultivating grass in vast char areas.
Many extremely poor char families have achieved self-reliance through animal husbandry alongside other income generation activities with CLP assistance since 2016, leading better lives along with their children. A couple, Fancy Begum and Shahinur Islam of Char Purbo Mohipur in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, shared their success in rearing cows, goats, and calves, earning enough to lead a better life.
Other char residents like Anwar Hossain, Mozammel Haque, Nur Islam, and Mahbub Alam of Char Paschim Mohipur shared their stories of overcoming poverty by rearing cattle. Farmers Aminul Islam, Noor Nahar, Parul Begum, and Aklima Khatun of Char Taluk Shahbaz in Balapara union of Kawnia upazila in Rangpur are optimistic about selling their healthier bulls for significant profits.
Char dweller Abdul Ahad of Astomirchar in Chilmari upazila in Kurigram noted his success in selling livestock at a profit, highlighting the transformative impact of the livestock sector. Rangpur District Livestock Officer Dr. Md Abu Sayeed confirmed that char residents, mostly landless and affected by river erosion, are now raising animals on a commercial basis, successfully changing their fortunes.