For Shefali Bibi, 55, of Datinakhali village in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, clean drinking water is a daily concern. The pond near her house was her main source of drinking water. After cyclone Aila in 2009, the tidal water became saline. Now she has to fetch water from a pond about 1.5 km away every day.
It is not possible for Shefali Bibi or other members of her family of six to go and fetch water every day. However, an NGO about a kilometre away provides drinking water. The family fetches two large pots of water from there every day, paying a fee of 500 taka annually.
“Is two pots of water enough for a family in this heat? The suffering we endure!” fumes a woman from Burigoalini union in Shyamnagar upazila.
Shefali Bibi's house is near the Chuna river. At least during the rainy season, this river used to have fresh water flowing in it, but now it remains salty for a long time during the rainy season.
People living on the beach are closely observing this change in nature. Many of them are facing problems due to this.
The picture that emerges from all three studies shows that this suffering may increase further in the future.