A modern fish hatchery and centre will be established in the Chalanbeel region to restore the area’s lost heritage and revive indigenous fish species, Fisheries and Livestock Deputy Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has said.
The deputy minister made the announcement while speaking as the chief guest at a fish farmers’ conference titled “Safe Fish Production, Market Policy Expansion and International Export Chain Replacement” held at Bara Pathuria High School ground in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore on Saturday afternoon.
“Our country is full of resources. Our goal is to meet domestic demand and then export abroad using fish produced in the country’s open water bodies, including Chalanbeel,” Tuku said.
He added that the government has started formulating and implementing effective plans to achieve this goal.
The deputy minister said former President Ziaur Rahman transformed the country from the label of a “basket case” into a prosperous nation, while Khaleda Zia gifted parliamentary democracy to the country.
He described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as their worthy successor who is currently working to change people’s fate. The government is gradually implementing all electoral promises, he said, seeking everyone’s cooperation and support to sustain the pace of development.
Responding to a question from journalists, Tuku said strict instructions have been given to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in border areas to ensure that no animals illegally enter the country from India to protect the interests of domestic farmers.
He said there are currently over 2.2 million more animals in the country than demand. “Instructions have been given to relevant authorities to maintain strict surveillance across the border so that domestic farmers do not face losses,” he added.
Advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, whip of the National Parliament, spoke as the inaugurator of the conference.
He said a new revolution in fish farming will be brought about by ensuring the use of modern technology in the country’s open water bodies, including Natore’s Chalanbeel and Haltibeel.
Special initiatives will be taken for the breeding, preservation and improved marketing of indigenous fish, Dulu added, noting that effective steps will also be taken to meet the country’s protein deficiency by bringing fish farmers under modern and advanced training.
The conference was presided over by Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md Zia Haider Chowdhury. Special guests included MP for Natore-4 Abdul Aziz, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Divisional Commissioner ANM Bazlur Rashid, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Natore.
