Assessing the living conditions of fisherman community as low-income housing: A Case Study of Pitaitikor Village, Fenchuganj, Sylhet

A study was conducted among the Pitaitikor village near the Kushiara River and the Hakaluki Haor fishermen in the Fenchuganj area of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The fisherman community comprises individuals or families whose primary source of income or subsistence is fishing. The objective of this study was to identify and present their living conditions, house forms, and settlement patterns. The study revealed the conventional and inadequate way of life among rural fishermen. To improve their living conditions, the study aimed to elucidate the opportunities, coping strategies, and challenges associated with livelihood in this community. Using a mixed-methods approach involving observations, surveys interviews, field, and literature reviews, a semi-structured questionnaire was employed to interview a total of 50 fishermen chosen randomly from the study region. Ultimately, by focusing on specific interventions to enhance the well-being of the fisherman community in Sylhet, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the socio-economic dynamics of that community.