Lifestyle of the Nomadic River Gypsies and their Threat Narrative:

Rivers have been an attention of human activities throughout the history. The livelihood of people is essentially dependent on the river and its resources in Bangladesh, but the story of river gypsies is totally different. River gypsies are an ethnic group in Bangladesh. They are known as “water gypsies” or “bedey” to local people. They have their own lifestyles and culture.

This paper focuses on the Bangladeshi gypsy community living in Porabari, Savar, and Dakatia Rivers in Chandpur Sadar district. This study investigated the gypsy’s identity in society and their status at the community level and also explored their existing entitlements, needs, and social rights, and finally examine the problems and threats they frequently face for living in unstable conditions in society. Both primary and secondary data are used in this study. A questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD) are conducted in the study area. Besides these data, some secondary data is also used in this study.

The major empirical findings are:
a) In Bangladesh’s context day by day river gypsies lost their culture;
b) One of the major problems in the Bedey community is water and sanitation, in Chandpur Sadar district 260- 280 families (approximately 500-600 people) use only 4 kacha toilets by sharing. They are directly drinking the river water by using potassium aluminum sulfate (KAl (SO4)2);
c) In their own opinion they use the river water to clean, cook, bath, and drink and they have no land;

d) They want their domestic culture, but the problem is they do not want to roam in the river and jungle because their traditional professions lose their demand. Now they want to transform their occupation and many of them run grocery shops in Porabari;
e) More than 96 percent of bede are illiterate and are living below the poverty line, only 3 percent bedey children got the opportunity to be vaccinated against vaccine-preventable deadly diseases;

f) In Chandpur Sadar district most of the beds are enlisted in the voter list but the scenario of Savar Porabari is totally different. Most of the Bedes still could not enlist themselves in the voter list. This research demonstrates the overall lifestyle of the gypsy community in the study area. At present, they are facing many problems, due to rapid urbanization and the drying out of the rivers, and many of them changing their profession. Government and NGOs should take some initiatives to support them to protect their culture and also need to provide them with an environment-friendly living place.

Rivers have been a focus of human activities throughout the history. Rivers have played a leading role in the history of civilization of several countries of the world. Bangladesh is a riverine country with hundreds of rivers overlying its landscape. The livelihood of people is essentially dependent on the river and its resources in Bangladesh, but the story of river gypsies is totally different. River gypsies are an ethnic group in Bangladesh. They are known as bedey to local people. Bede is a nomadic community and is regarded as “Water Gypsy” “River Gypsy” or “Nomadic People”. Dalton in his brief report mentions Bedayas as a gypsy-like tribe.

Anthropologist H.K.S. Arefeen mentioned “Bede” as a marginalized Muslim community from Bangladesh’s perspective. Wise calls the Bedes “bands of vagrants…who correspond to the gypsies of Europe”. The community gives a rational explanation of the term “Bede” and defends their Arab origin on the basis of similarity with the Arabic word “Bedouin”. However, Banglapedia mentioned them as descendants of the `Montong’ tribe of Myanmar. Bedes are engaged in snake charming, catching snakes, curing snake bites, selling snakes, traditional and spiritual healing services, magic shows and monkey shows, and selling bangles and trinkets.

According to their own estimate, there were 1.5 million in number in 1987 living in Bangladesh. According to a recent estimate, there are 500,000 in number in Bangladesh. Around 10,000 nomadic groups roam around Bangladesh and they gather for two months in an area. A survey reported about 65 prominent areas where Bedes come for yearly gatherings and some of the Bedes have purchased some land to settle there.