Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Monday that the shortage of local fish in the country is turning acute as there is no alternative to open water bodies in resolving this crisis.
“The government is taking steps to create fish sanctuaries in the rivers of the country,” she said while addressing a discussion in the conference room of the deputy commissioner’s office in Kurigram.
The district administration and the Directorate of Fisheries and Livestock jointly organised the discussion with Deputy Commissioner Sifat Mehnaz in the chair.
The meeting includes district fisheries officers, district livestock officers, officials from private institutions, female farmers, and representatives from local NGOs.
Farida further pointed out that due to sedimentation in the rivers caused by floods, there has been a decrease in navigability, water pollution, the use of Chinese nets, and illegal electric fishing, which is leading to a decline in the fish population.
She called for vigorous operations to seize illegal fishing equipment, adding that speedboats will be used to maintain these operations in the rivers.
On the issue of living standards in the char (riverine) areas, the adviser mentioned that the people in these regions are deprived of many government services due to inadequate communication infrastructure. She urged all ministries to adopt specific action plans for the benefit of these communities.
Regarding the preservation of milk produced by farmers, Farida noted that farmers are facing losses due to improper collection and storage. As a solution, the government plans to set up chilling centres in the region.
In her remarks on the sacrifices of the July warriors, the adviser stressed that many of them had given their lives, while others had become disabled.
“Their sacrifices should never be forgotten,” she said, urging the government and NGOs to provide employment opportunities for them.
Kurigram Civil Surgeon Dr Swapna Kumar Biswas, District Fisheries Officer Moktadir Khan, District Livestock Officer Dr Mohammad Habibur Rahman, DAE Additional Director Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional Superintendent of Police Masud Rana and other district administrative officials.
Following the discussion, the Adviser visited the home of a female farmer in Chararpur village in Fivegachi Union of Kurigram Sadar Upazila.
