Abdul Khalil has lost everything to the cyclone Aila. Or is nature only to blame? The enlightening documentary presents how shrimp cultivation has devastated coastal villagers like Abdul Khalil, even as they try to fend off the devastating strike of Mother Nature.

The documentary provides conclusive evidence from accounts of the victims of Aila, and relevant experts on how the shrimp farms are responsible for the collapse of embankments that protected the settlements in this South-western region. The documentary also presents with conclusive proof that shrimp aquaculture is leaving severe negative environmental and social impacts on Bangladesh’s coastal region that is routinely devastated by some of the world’s natural calamities. Views of experts have been presented, as have been the sufferings of the populace devastated by shrimp cultivation. Furthermore, harvest of shrimp fry from the coastal rivers and the coasts and apple snails from wetland to feed the shrimp is also ecologically very destructive.

Using agricultural land for shrimp farming has resulted in a cycle of poverty in many communities, as residents are no longer able to find employment as agricultural workers. As prominent social activist Khushi Kabir said, “It is ridiculous that we are producing shrimps for export at the cost of rice, pulses and vegetables. It is a contradiction with self.”

However, there is still hope for these communities by giving up shrimp aquaculture on agricultural land or following more environmentally friendly semi-intensive cultivation methods. This documentary hopes to raise public awareness of the true realities of shrimp cultivation in Bangladesh’s coastal regions. The key final message the documentary film conveys is that that proper policies got to be in place considering all the harmful effects of shrimp aquaculture and the coastal traditions and affluence must be brought back.

Publication Details

Published: 2013
Language: English
Length: 26 minutes
Director: Philip Gain
DVD: Tk.200 / US$10