Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid on Thursday said planned fish farming in university lakes, including those at Jahangirnagar University (JU), could set a new benchmark for freshwater aquaculture in Bangladesh.
Modern fish production across around 180 acres of water bodies at JU alone could create employment for thousands of people and generate several crores of taka in annual revenue, he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after releasing fish fingerlings into the JU lakes in the morning under the Department of Fisheries’ revenue budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
A total of 395kg of fingerlings were released into the university lakes, including 158kg of Rui, 118.5kg of Katla, 79kg of Mrigel and 39.5kg of Kalibaus, accordin g to press release.
Since the lakes remained unmanaged for a long time and are connected to external water sources, there is a possibility of predatory fish presence, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid.
“To ensure survival, we have released larger fingerlings instead of small fry,” he added.
The minister said agriculture and fisheries must remain the backbone of the national economy to ensure food security.
“Not a single inch of land or water body should be left uncultivated,” he said.
“We must rely on planned and technology-driven farming to ensure our economic sovereignty.”
He said nearly 90 per cent of the population is linked to the agrarian economy and the government is supporting them through initiatives such as Krishak Cards, Family Cards and low-interest loans.
Regarding Eid-ul-Adha, the minister said there is no shortage of sacrificial animals in the country.
“Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in meat production,” he said.
“To protect local farmers, the government, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and law enforcement agencies are on high alert to prevent the illegal entry of cattle through borders.”
JU Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan presided over the event.
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Delwar Hossain and Department of Fisheries Director General Zia Haider Chowdhury attended as special guests.
Faculty members, students and senior officials were also present.
