Introduction: Historical Background

Bangladesh is an agrarian country. For centuries, its peasant society has produced food by harmonizing land, water, soil, and sky. The southern region—particularly Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Barguna—was once regarded as a vital granary of the nation. Fertile soil, abundant rivers and canals, seasonal rainfall, and a favorable climate created ideal conditions for producing rice, jute, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, and freshwater fish. Farmers of this region not only ensured their own sustenance but also contributed significantly to national food security.

However, from the 1980s, the landscape began to change. Rising global demand for black tiger shrimp encouraged foreign agencies—especially the World Bank, ADB, USAID, and Japanese aid organizations—to promote shrimp cultivation in Bangladesh through various projects and financing. Government policies and administrative support accelerated this process. Their slogan was: “Shrimp is the goose that lays golden eggs.” They claimed that cultivating shrimp in paddy fields would multiply farmers’ income, bring in foreign exchange, and lead villages toward prosperity.

In reality, the opposite occurred. Fertile agricultural land was destroyed, rivers and canals were grabbed, forests were cleared, soil fertility declined, ecosystems were disrupted, and rural society was burdened with poverty and inequality. In exchange for temporary foreign currency earnings, Bangladesh lost the very foundation of agriculture and social systems that had been built over centuries.

Impact on Agriculture

1.⁠ ⁠Decline in rice and food crop production:

Lands that once yielded two to three harvests annually were converted into saline shrimp enclosures. As a result, rice, jute, pulses, and vegetables could no longer be cultivated, causing a drastic fall in food production.

2.⁠ ⁠Loss of livelihood for farmers and agricultural laborers:

Shrimp farming is not labor-intensive. Thousands of agricultural workers lost their jobs. Small farmers, dispossessed of their land, were forced to migrate to cities.

3.⁠ ⁠Destruction of agricultural diversity:

The traditional cultivation of multiple rice varieties, local vegetables, fruits, and fish was replaced by monocultural dependence on shrimp, narrowing agricultural diversity.

Environmental Impact

1.⁠ ⁠Intrusion of saline water:

Saline water was brought from rivers and canals into shrimp enclosures. Surrounding lands and water bodies became saline, leading to the extinction of freshwater fish and shrinking opportunities for livestock rearing.

2.⁠ ⁠Loss of livelihood for farmers and agricultural laborers:

Large-scale shrimp enclosures near the Sundarbans placed immense pressure on mangrove forests. Tigers, deer, birds, crabs, turtles, and many other species lost their habitats.

3.⁠ ⁠Encroachment on wetlands and rivers:

Canals and wetlands were filled up for shrimp enclosures, and river water was illegally diverted. This disrupted natural water flows and increased waterlogging.

Impact on Soil

1.⁠ ⁠Loss of fertility:

Continuous use of saline water destroyed soil’s organic matter, making farmland unfit for cultivation in the long run.

2.⁠ ⁠Damage to land structure:

Shrimp enclosures required embankments and dikes that permanently weakened the natural agricultural infrastructure.

Impact on Human Health

1.⁠ ⁠Health problems from saline drinking water:

Rising salinity in drinking water has caused high blood pressure, kidney diseases, skin ailments, and pregnancy-related complications among women.

2.⁠ ⁠Pesticide and chemical pollution:

Shrimp cultivation uses antibiotics and chemicals extensively. These seep into food and water, creating harmful effects on human health.

Social Impact

1.⁠ ⁠Land grabbing and conflict:

Influential businessmen and politicians forcibly occupied small farmers’ lands to set up shrimp enclosures, increasing violent conflicts over land ownership.

2.⁠ ⁠Poverty and migration:

With agriculture destroyed, thousands migrated to Dhaka and other cities in search of work. Labor migration from the south to the Middle East also intensified.

3.⁠ ⁠Increased burden on women:

Women lost agricultural employment and became jobless. Food insecurity and health problems worsened women’s already vulnerable condition.

Climate and Long-term Impact

1.⁠ ⁠Shrimp farming is not only a local environmental issue but is deeply connected with climate change.

2.⁠ ⁠Saline intrusion reduced soil’s carbon storage capacity.

3.⁠ ⁠Clearing mangrove forests for shrimp farms increased vulnerability to climate change.

4.⁠ ⁠Cyclones and tidal surges have made the region even more disaster-prone.

Role of International Agencies

1.⁠ ⁠International organizations played a central role in expanding shrimp farming.

2.⁠ ⁠The World Bank and ADB promoted export-oriented agriculture.

3.⁠ ⁠USAID provided technology and loans.

4.⁠ ⁠Foreign importers created demand and encouraged local elites to grab land.

Thus, shrimp cultivation cannot be seen merely as a local crisis; it is part of international capital pressure and globalization policies.

Conclusion

Though the shrimp industry in southern Bangladesh has been called an “economic success story,” in reality it has caused severe devastation to agriculture, environment, soil, health, and society. In exchange for meager foreign currency earnings, Bangladesh has sacrificed its centuries-old agrarian livelihoods and food security.

What is urgently needed today:

1.⁠ ⁠Protecting farmland and controlling saline intrusion.

2.⁠ ⁠Restoring rice, vegetables, fruits, and native fish production.

3.⁠ ⁠Ensuring the rights of farmers and agricultural laborers.

4.⁠ ⁠Building movements to defend food sovereignty against international pressures.

Unless the blind expansion of the shrimp industry is halted, the southern region of Bangladesh will turn into a barren wasteland—where there will be no paddy fields, no vibrant rural society, only salinity, disease, and the grim face of poverty.

Badrul Alam
03 September 2025
Dhaka

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