In the Kaliganj area - the poorest in Satkhira district in southern Bangladesh - shrimp nets lay idle on the khas land occupied by 12,000 families. Organised by the BKF, and occupied since 1998, families survive on fish and shrimp fishing. Cyclone Aila - an extreme weather event - damaged homes and inundated the land with salt water. As a result women have to travel for four hours a day to collect fresh water. Alerted by blowing whistles and flashing torches, families defend the island from goonda attacks using glass marbles fired from catapults and wielding bamboo lathis (sticks). In one of the attacks, Kisani Sabha leader, Jayada was killed. The government has yet to grant legal title to the poor and so the occupation continues.
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