Various fish including jatka killed in Kamalnagar, violating ban

Lakshmipur:

Every day in Kamalnagar, Lakshmipur, hundreds of fishermen are killing various species of fish including Jatka during the festival. Due to the lack of necessary activities by the Fisheries Department, Coast Guard and local administration and due to the lack of proper implementation of the law, fishing is going on. Everyone is complaining that Dadandars and Mahajans are managing the concerned and sending the fishermen into the river. In such a situation, there is a fear that fish production will be disrupted and the desired goals of the government will not be implemented.

From Wednesday (March 20) afternoon to Friday (March 22) morning, when visiting different areas of the Meghna River in Kamalnagar, it was seen that fishermen were fishing without any hindrance. Most of the fishermen were using illegal current nets for fishing for jatka. They were killing Hilsa fry with tied nets. They were killing different species of fish including poya fry with mosquito nets. These fish were being sold openly in markets and shops. They were being preserved and sent to different places in the country including Dhaka and Chittagong.

In the Matabbarhat area of Kamalnagar, it was seen that fishermen were fishing by casting nets in the river in boats in the presence of fisheries officials and coast guard. Sensing the presence of journalists, the coast guard and fisheries officials chased the fishermen with a small boat, but did not take any initiative to seize the nets. It is like a game of cat and mouse.

After some time, after the fisheries officials and coast guard left the area, the fishermen pulled in nets, caught fish, and brought them to the wharf. This is how the 'fish rescue operation' is going on.

It has been found that the Meghna River is completely unprotected after evening. Fishermen fish all night long depending on the tides. In the morning, fishermen catch fish at temporary wharves in the area around the wharf. Fish worth lakhs of taka are sold every day. During the sale of fish, a gang takes money from the fishermen and uses that money to manage the concerned parties.

Although there is a two-month ban on all types of fishing in the Meghna in Lakshmipur to increase fish production and protect the Jatka, fishermen are not following the law. Fish are being killed on a large scale using various methods in the Meghna in Kamalnagar. In addition, it has been reported that fishermen are fishing in the river in Ramgati, ignoring the ban.

Lakshmipur Deputy Commissioner Anjan Chandra Pal has expressed his dissatisfaction over the ongoing campaign. He has ordered the Kamalnagar Upazila Fisheries Officer to take effective action. Yet, fish killing is going on indiscriminately day and night.

The 100-kilometer stretch of the Meghna River from Shatanal area in Chandpur to Ramgati in Laxmipur is a fish sanctuary. Being a breeding ground, fish lay eggs here; fish fry grow; fish grow. There is a ban on fishing here for two months, March-April. During this time, if you cast a net in the Meghna, the net will be filled with fish. Unscrupulous fishermen take advantage of this opportunity to violate the law and catch fish. Fishermen are forced to go to the river under pressure from Dadandar-Mahajan. Moreover, the government food assistance given to fishermen to refrain from fishing is not being provided on time and all registered fishermen are not covered by the food assistance, so the fishing festival is going on.

Fishermen in Kamalnagar say that although VGF rice was supposed to be distributed to fishermen since February, it is not being distributed. In such a situation, the fishermen's families are going through an extremely difficult time. Since there is no alternative employment, they go fishing in the river to support their families. Some say that their names are not on the food assistance list; if they don't fish, what will they eat?

Coast Guard Contingent Commander Md. Humayun, in charge of Kamalnagar, said, "They do not have the capacity to conduct operations in long river areas. They do not have fast engine-powered trawlers or speedboats. The fishermen quickly flee when they sense our presence while fishing. It is not even possible to pull up the nets at this time. There is no budget to hire workers, which is why the nets cannot be seized."

Kamalnagar Upazila Fisheries Officer Abdul Kuddus said, they have a shortage of manpower. Due to which it is not possible to conduct the operation properly. Still, efforts are being made to prevent fishermen from fishing. A list of food aid has been prepared. VGF rice will be distributed to fishermen as soon as possible.

Lakshmipur District Fisheries Officer HM Mohib Ullah said, there are 49,558 registered fishermen in Lakshmipur. Out of them, 25,947 fishermen will receive food assistance. The remaining 23,611 fishermen have been excluded. Higher authorities have been informed so that they too can receive food assistance.

To increase Hilsa production and protect Jatka, a ban has been imposed on fishing in the 100-kilometer area of the Meghna River from Ramgati in Lakshmipur to Shatanal in Chandpur for two months from March to April. During this period, fishing, transportation, marketing and storage of fish are illegal. There are provisions for jail and fines for violating this law.