Karunamoyee case study

Strong demands in the international markets for shrimp along with increased price of shrimp in the international market have dictated a rapid expansion of the shrimp industry in Bangladesh.

Fish and shrimp exports constitute the second largest export commodity in Bangladesh and shrimp export alone contributes 4.7% of the country's total GDP. However, earnings from the shrimp industry have been mainly used for acquiring more land and on luxury items for the industry owners.

Whatever developments in the infrastructure which have resulted from the earnings have mainly been used to facilitate shrimp production and little has been done to develop the villages or benefit the villagers.

The bulk of the population in Bangladesh earns less than the amount sufficient to satisfy even the basic needs. The vast majority of population living in the rural areas has practically no access to capital via the formal banking sector.

Traditionally, local money lenders -- those who have higher incomes and, therefore, more power -- lend to the poor at exorbitant rates of interest.

Violence against women is recognized as one of the main issues against which all human rights organizations are struggling. Even in the more 'liberated' societies, the majority of the cases of violence that take place are directed towards women.