Long-Term, Community-Led Support Vital for Manta Fisherfolk in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh — Long-term, community-led support is essential to ensure Manta fisherfolk in southern Bangladesh can access the public services, opportunities and rights they deserve, community members and stakeholders said at a recent learning event in Dhaka.

Many Manta families live on boats along the rivers of southern Bangladesh, making access to essential services particularly challenging. Without a permanent address, families can face barriers to obtaining birth registration and identity documents, enrolling children in education, accessing healthcare and benefiting from social safety-net programmes.

Their challenges are further compounded by river erosion, pollution and declining fish stocks, which threaten both their living conditions and traditional livelihoods.

At the MantaConnect learning event, community representatives and stakeholders highlighted the need for sustained support that reflects the priorities and lived experiences of the Manta community. Key areas identified included fair access to public services, education and healthcare, as well as skills development, financial literacy and alternative livelihood opportunities.

Through the MantaConnect initiative, YouthNet Global, JAAGO Foundation Trust and DocTime have worked with the community to improve access to essential services and strengthen local capacity.

The initiative has so far supported birth registration for 200 children, provided training to 200 community members and engaged 30 local youth volunteers. Financial literacy training has also reached 150 people, 60 percent of whom are women, helping strengthen knowledge and confidence around household financial management and economic opportunities.

Community-led approaches remain central to these efforts, recognising that sustainable solutions must be shaped by the people they are intended to serve.

MantaConnect and its partners will continue working alongside the Manta community to advance inclusive and lasting support—one that recognises their rights, culture, livelihoods and aspirations, while helping ensure that living on the rivers does not mean being left behind.