lens culture
Salt Water Tears
Munem Wasif

Salt Water Tears

Photos
26
Status
Public
Created
May 26, 2013
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
Categories
Documentary Black & White

Photos (26)

Cover
Sharoshoti Munda and Rubala Munda are waiting for their pitchers to be filled with water from the only filters in the area. They had to stand in a queue for hours like hundreds of others. Patrakhola, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB09.jpg
Shrimp are for sale in a local market. Shamnogor, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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A collector drags golpata, cut from deep in the Mangrove forest, back to the boat. Sunderban, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB02.jpg
Aged 65, Aiyub Ali rises early to offer his prayers before a full day loading the boat with golpata. Sunderban, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB03.jpg
Golpata collectors settle after work in the middle of the river near Sunderban. Increased salinity from shrimp cultivation has forced traditional fishermen to abandon their families for months at a time, and seek a long-term livelihood in Sunderban. Sunderban, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB01.jpg
A father, son, and uncle cast their net to catch fish at dawn. Sunderban, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB04.jpg
Shajhan Siraj and his brothers push boats through low tide into the sea. The boats are filled with fresh water which they have collected inland. It takes the brothers up to three hours to make the journey each day. Datinkhali, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB11.jpg
Cows paddle through water in search of pasture. Shrimp farming has increased salinity levels in the water to the extent that there is now a shortage of grass to feed the cows. Bolabaria, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB05.jpg
A woman collects drinking water from a sweet-water pond. Her two-hour journey needs to be performed twice a day. Bolabaria, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB06.jpg
The woman's day is principally organized around the task of providing water. Bolabaria, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB07.jpg
The land bears the footprints of each of the women journeying for water. Patrakhola, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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Johura Begum's husband Amer Chan (60), is suffering from liver cancer. She has succeeded in bringing home water. Patrakhola, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB08.jpg
High salinity levels in the water have affected health. Amer Chan (60) is suffering from liver cancer. He is resting on a jute mat in his clay hut. Patrakhola, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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Voddori Munda (55), waits beside an empty pitcher for her daughter-in-law to return with water. Kashipur, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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A mother grieves as her child lapses into unconsciousness. The tumour on her child's back has worsened. Her husband is fishing and will not return that day. Chuna, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB23.jpg
Joya Rani Sanal has developed a method of collecting rainwater in polythene bags. She and her family will be able to survive six months with this water. Bolabaria, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB12.jpg
Durgabadda Mondol (50) is the sole earner of the family. He and his family have been suffering from numerous diseases during the past few months. His daughter-in-law, unwell, sits outside in the sun. Chuna, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB17.jpg
Hiromunda used to be a farmer, tending to miles of rice fields. Encroaching shrimp farms have left him unable to feed his family. Patrakhola, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB18.jpg
Sorifa Khatun (30) rocks one of her seven children to sleep. Her husband, Kased Mali, was killed by a tiger some six months ago. Gabura, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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School attendance is reduced by the daily need to help mothers collect drinking water. Sawkat nogor, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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Young children look for small fish in the mud. Vamia, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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A mother rests with her daughter. Kashipur, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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A child sleeps alone as his mother collects water for dinner. Ashasuni, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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Increased salinity in the water turned fertile lands to barren ground. A ruin of an old tree trunk is left as evidence of past glory. Ashasuni, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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A boat sits idle on a patch of land barren and cracked from salinity. Gabura, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
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A quest for water. Bolabaria, Satkhira. © Munem Wasif/VU'
File: MUNE14984-2009NB26.jpg