Abstract

LIFESTYLE CHANGES IN THE MONGA AFFECTED AREA: PAST AND PRESENT SCENARIO OF SHAGHATA UPAZILLA, GAIBANDHA, RANGPUR, BANGLADESH

Tazrina Jahan Chowdhury, Abdus Sobhan Emran and Tajbeul Ibn Mizan Ridoy

Volume: 7 Issue: 1 2017

Abstract:

A wide variety of natural disasters including flood, drought, river erosion and cold wave have been affecting the lives of people of north-west Bangladesh. Although the climatic and physiographic condition of the region do not favor agriculture, since the beginning of the history of Bengal main occupation of the local people has been considered as farming and agro-based works. Unexpected loss of crop yield and sudden unemployment of people due to frequent disaster outbreaks had been causing food deprivation in the locality from the British ruling period. Monga, a near famine condition prevailed here from September to November and was periodically experienced by the local people. But this phenomenon has not been witnessed in the region within the last decade. This indicates that the local people has successfully combated Monga eradicating food insecurity and unemployment. Along with agricultural adaptation, the local people initiated progressive changes in their lifestyles which brought a cumulative change in the society. This study focuses on the changes in lifestyles of the local people over the years trying to identify areas of improvement in the study area. Two unions of Shaghata Upazilla of Gaibandha district was selected as the study area. Both primary and secondary data related to the research were brought under consideration. At present, people of the study area have started to realize the importance of education, health awareness and women empowerment which has improved their socio-economic situation. They are still tangled with poverty and other social impediments but their determination for betterment of their lives keeps them motivated to journey into a prosperous future.

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