Published: 12:30 AM, 14 May 2026
Life at Risk at Sea, Uncertainty on Shore
Shafiqul Islam Khokon
“Mother, I’m going to the sea. I’ve sent money through bKash. Take your mother to the doctor. If I get a good catch this time, I’ll come back, pay off all our debts, and buy a bicycle for my grandson.”
These were the words spoken by Abdul Kalam Kalu Majhi from the village of Boro Tengra in Patharghata upazila of Barguna before he left for fishing on November 14, 2023. His trawler was caught in a storm, and he never returned. His daughter, Fahima Akter, still waits for her father.
In the same village lived 18-year-old Nadim. He was afraid of going to sea, but due to poverty and his mother’s insistence, he joined a fishing trip. Nadim also never returned. His mother, Fatema, now lives with deep regret and endless waiting.
Across the coastal regions, thousands of such stories remain scattered—stories of grief, uncertainty, and the pain of loved ones who never came home.
When we speak of labor rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions, we usually focus on urban workers. Yet the fishermen living in Bangladesh’s coastal regions—locally known as “jele”—remain largely outside these discussions. Their labor, struggles, and contributions are no less significant; in many cases, they face even greater risks and uncertainty.
Every day, coastal fishermen battle the unpredictability of the sea to earn a livelihood. On one hand, there are the growing threats of climate change; on the other, the fear of pirates. Despite these dangers, they venture into the salty waters with almost no protection. Limited early warning systems, the absence of effective insurance, and weak safety infrastructure only increase their vulnerability.
The lives of coastal fishermen are entirely dependent on nature and filled with uncertainty. They sail into rough seas daily, where cyclones, tidal surges, and sudden weather changes are constant threats. A single wrong decision or natural disaster can instantly claim their lives. Yet, driven by the need to survive, they are forced to take these risks.
Bangladesh has 19 coastal districts, home to nearly one million fishing workers. A study by the “Patharghata Coastal Protection Movement” found that between 1993 and June 30, 2024, 188 fishermen went missing in Patharghata upazila alone. There is no official record of them in any government office, association, or organization. Their wives cannot legally identify themselves as widows, nor can their children officially state that their fathers are missing. As a result, they are deprived of government benefits and legal recognition.
One recommendation has therefore been the creation of a separate law for fishermen and the inclusion of a legally recognized “missing” category in official forms. Coastal investigative journalist and researcher Shafiqul Islam Khokon, with support from the Patharghata Upazila Administration, has established a memorial plaque honoring missing fishermen—the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
Economically, fishermen also face severe exploitation. Most depend on middlemen who purchase fish at low prices and sell them for much higher profits. Consequently, fishermen are deprived of fair compensation for their labor.
Seasonal fishing bans leave them unemployed for months each year. During these periods, inadequate alternative income opportunities and insufficient government assistance push their families into extreme hardship.
In terms of social security, fishermen remain far behind. There is virtually no effective support system during accidents, illness, or natural disasters. Limited access to education and healthcare prevents their children from achieving better lives, perpetuating poverty from one generation to the next.
Although labor rights and fair wages are widely discussed nationally and internationally, coastal fishermen remain almost invisible in these conversations. While some discussions on fishermen’s issues have emerged in recent years, they are neither sufficient nor influential enough to reach policymakers effectively.
The reality of coastal fishermen is heartbreaking. Working under the scorching sun and torrential rain, risking their lives to meet the nation’s fish demand, they continue to remain marginalized.
One of the major overlooked issues is the lack of official recognition of fishermen as workers. Most coastal fishermen are not recognized by the government or institutions as formal laborers. Many are trapped in exploitative debt systems known as dadan, borrowing money from local moneylenders before fishing trips.
Typically, half of the catch belongs to the trawler owner, while the remaining half is divided among 8 to 18 fishermen. Considering the physical risks and hard labor involved, their earnings are extremely inadequate.
Unlike formal workers, fishermen have no fixed working hours, no life insurance, and no guaranteed workplace safety. While other workers may have an eight-hour workday, fishermen spend days or even weeks at sea without rest.
Bangladesh’s garment industry has undergone significant reforms over the past decades. Wage structures, working hours, and factory safety have improved due to domestic advocacy and international pressure. Although challenges remain, garment workers’ voices are now more widely heard. Tea workers have also achieved limited progress after years of protest.
But no such legal framework exists for coastal fishermen.
Their lives remain stories of endless uncertainty. Every day they confront storms, tidal waves, and piracy. Trawlers capsize, fishermen disappear, and deaths often go unnoticed in national discussions. There are no strong labor unions for them, no effective social protection systems, no income security, and no healthcare protection.
Each year, natural disasters and floods claim the lives of hundreds of coastal fishermen. Driven by the hope of larger catches, many venture into deep seas without modern equipment or reliable weather information. Once disconnected from communication networks, they become highly vulnerable. Naval or coast guard patrols rarely reach those distant waters.
Authorities should issue red alerts in rivers and coastal areas as soon as warning signals intensify and ensure effective communication with fishermen at sea.
There is also no proper record of which fishermen travel on which trawlers. Trawler owner associations should maintain registration systems, including national identity information for every fisherman onboard. Safety equipment such as life jackets and buoys should be mandatory according to the number of passengers, but many owners fail to provide them. As a result, countless fishermen go missing or die after storms at sea. Some even drift into Indian waters.
Seasonal fishing bans create additional crises. Although the government provides some assistance during these periods, it is insufficient. Many fishermen fall deeper into debt and remain trapped in cycles of poverty. Due to economic hardship, young boys enter this dangerous profession early, sacrificing their education.
The question remains: should labor rights apply only to visible industrial sectors? What about those who contribute to national food security, who constantly battle natural disasters, and who risk their lives daily at sea without any certainty of returning home?
For years, we have emphasized the need to think about coastal fishermen. Coastal laborers work under extreme risks. They are directly affected by storms, tidal surges, and climate change. Many work without safety measures, receive unfair wages, and are denied educational opportunities.
If labor consciousness is truly universal, then our attention must also turn toward coastal fishermen. They need special fisheries policies, separate legal protections, workplace safety guarantees, disaster insurance, helicopter rescue systems during emergencies, alternative employment opportunities, healthcare support, official lists of missing fishermen, sustainable rehabilitation programs for affected families, educational support for children, increased incentives during fishing bans, and legal recognition of their labor dignity.
However, one important point must be highlighted: although the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock provides some financial aid when fishermen are injured or killed, Bangladesh’s Labor Act of 2006 does not legally recognize coastal fishermen as workers.
The law was designed mainly for factory workers, industrial laborers, shop employees, and office staff. Coastal fishermen, however, are often self-employed or work informally in groups without appointment letters or formal employer-employee relationships. Consequently, they often fall outside the legal definition of “worker.”
As a result:
· Compensation laws do not directly apply when they are injured or killed.
· Employment contracts, working hours, and safety rights are largely absent.
· Their support depends mostly on temporary government projects or social welfare programs rather than enforceable legal rights.
While garment workers enjoy legal protections under labor laws, no equivalent framework exists for coastal fishing workers. This creates a major legal gap: labor laws focus on the formal sector, while fishermen belong largely to the informal economy.
For years, we have demanded legal recognition and social security for coastal fishermen. Existing government support programs are welfare measures, not legal rights. Therefore, practical and realistic solutions are urgently needed.
Fishermen should either be recognized as workers under labor law or protected under a separate “Fishermen Protection Act” or “Coastal Fishermen Protection Act.” Such legislation should include:
· Legal recognition of missing fishermen,
· Rights for wives and children of missing fishermen,
· Inheritance and property rights,
· A “Fishermen Welfare Foundation” providing financial assistance,
· Rehabilitation support,
· Medical treatment,
· Educational support,
· Emergency assistance.
One real example illustrates this tragedy. In 2023, two brothers from Padma village in Patharghata went fishing in the Baleshwar River. Their trawler capsized in a storm, and both went missing. Eleven days later, one brother’s body was recovered. While his funeral prayer was taking place, the other brother’s body floated ashore nearby.
I personally submitted an application to the Barishal Labor Department seeking assistance for the family. However, due to legal complications and the absence of specific laws recognizing fishermen, the family received no compensation.
This is only one example among thousands across the coast.
Although fishermen sometimes receive project-based aid, the strong legal protections available under the Bangladesh Labor Act of 2006 still do not apply to them. That is why a separate law for fishermen has become an urgent necessity.
A worker is not only someone in a factory. A worker is also the man who rows his boat into the sea before dawn, after taking one last look at his loved ones, uncertain whether he will ever return.
Coastal fishermen contribute enormously to Bangladesh’s economy and food security, yet they continue to be deprived of rights and opportunities. It is time to bring their struggles and potential into national focus. Only by ensuring their rights can we create a safer and more dignified life for them—and only then can labor rights truly exist at every level of society.
Shafiqul Islam Khokon is a
journalist, columnist and
a researcher.
