Fisheries and livestock adviser Farida Akhter on Tuesday urged fishermen to refrain from catching mother fish in order to protect fish reproduction and maintain ecological balance.
She made the call while addressing the 12th National Conference-2025 of the Bangladesh Small Fishermen Association at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium, said a press release.
鈥楾he fish caught from our rivers and seas are part of our natural resources. If we fail to protect them, we will face a shortage in the future. Ultimately, compliance with the law will benefit the fishermen themselves,鈥� the adviser said.
Regarding the long-standing problem of loan, also known as dadan, she said that it kept fishermen trapped in a cycle of poverty. Bangladesh Bank had expressed willingness to provide alternative low-interest loans so that fishermen were no longer dependent on dadan.
Farida also expressed concern that many fishermen go missing or lose their lives during natural disasters. 鈥楧iscussions are underway with the ministry of disaster management and relief to resolve this issue.鈥�
At the conference, the association raised six-point demands to ensure the fair rights and welfare of fishermen.
President of the association, freedom fighter Israil Khalil, presided over the conference, while director of the fisheries department Md Motaleb Hossain, assistant attorney general of BGB tribunal M Helal Uddin, additional PP of Barishal judge court Md Humayun Kabir, president of Bangladesh Sanyukta Sramik Federation Mosadek Hossain Swapan, general secretary Mokaddem Hossain, acting general secretary of the association Md Babul Mir, and member Taslima Begum, among others, spoke.