65-day fishing ban at sea gives rich dividents

Fishing boat in the Bay of Bengal. Wikimedia Ciommons.

Patuakhali: The 65-day ban imposed by the government to protect the country's hilsa resources has not been implemented in Kalapara, Kuakata coast of Patuakhali. Despite the government's special support to fishermen who are out of work during the hilsa breeding season, numerous small coastal engine boats, fiber trawlers and deep-sea medium and large-sized fishing trawlers are fishing in the sea. A class of unscrupulous fishing boat owners syndicated crores of taka transactions to the fishermen supplying fish to their boats and coordinated with the accused fishermen by giving them illegal opportunities. Although the fishery resources of the country are damaged, the unscrupulous fish owners and those involved in the implementation of the ban are profiting financially.

According to several reliable sources, the provisions of the Marine Fisheries Ordinance 1983 are being applied only to fishermen who are not on the beneficiary list of owners.

According to sources, the government has banned all types of fishing for 65 days from May 20 to July 23 to increase the reproduction of

fish in the sea. At that time, despite giving 56 kg of humanitarian rice in the first installment of the fishermen who were out of work,

despite the ban, fishing in the deep sea does not stop at all. Several ice mills in Kalapara, Kuakata coast are in operation. Those who are

managing are not under the sword of the law, the information of the operation is reaching them before the operation. Kuakata Naval Police Inspector Akhtar Morshved was transferred on the charges of such secret nexus of naval police with unscrupulous fishermen. In addition, Mahipur Thana Sechasebok League President Harun Talukdar protested when Marine Officer Ashikur Rahman of the Fisheries Department broke the shutters of a closed fish trap in the Dholai market of Kuakata coast because he was not in his good book. At the end of the dispute,

to avoid the eyes of the public, the nominally seized fish was sold at an auction for 1 thousand taka and the money was deposited in the government treasury. In this way, fish extracted from Bablatla, Chapali, Dholaimarket, Gangamati, Dhos, Baliatali, Ashakhali, Kuakata, Mahipur-Alipur fish harbors are going to different parts of the country for sale by sea and road. Fishermen claim that the rice given by the government to the family of 5-7 members does nothing for them. Money is needed to buy other daily commodities except rice. For this, they have to take money from the beggars. Besides, during the ban, the fishermen of Barguna, Laxmipur, Pirojpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Noakhali, Chittagong and Bhola are fishing in the sea. Indian fishermen are also constantly fishing by entering the waters of Bangladesh.

According to the investigation, 4-5 thousand taka per engine boat of Kuakata coast, 7-8 thousand taka per fiber and small trawler and 20-30

thousand taka per medium and large size trawler by ignoring the ban are supported behind the scenes of unhindered fishing in the sea. The

owner syndicate is giving. So that fishermen can catch fish in rivers, seas and estuaries using one and a half inch by two inch dandy fish nets, three inch by three and a half inch hilsa nets and half inch by half inch shrimp fishing nets. And so that this information is not revealed in the mass media, some influential journalists and their organizations invested in the development of the fish ware house syndicate.

The investigation also revealed that the Upazila Fisheries Officer coordinated with Harun Talukdar in his office regarding the conversation between Mahipur Thana Sechasebok League President Harun Talukder and Marine Fisheries Officer Ashikur Rahman. Apart from this, the allegations of not performing the proper duties of the naval police on the sea coast were covered up by the fishing syndicate. In this regard, Dholai Market's fish ware house owner Md. Obayudallah said, "We have already received the information of the raid. On that day Fisheries Officer Ashik along with CC of Nizampur Station broke the lock of the shutters of Russell Fish Market which was closed and seized the fish. Meanwhile, he had an argument with Harun Talukdar.

And I heard from Harun Talukdar that Ashik also took 2-3 thousand taka from fishermen of each trawler for giving GSM machine. Ansar Uddin Molla, president of Alipur Fishermen's Cooperative Association, said that although there are some irregularities in isolation, not everyone is guilty. He also said that our fishermen obeyed the ban, but Indian fishermen did not. Because of this, the ban is not getting any benefit.

Marine Fisheries Officer Md. Ashikur Rahman denied the complaint and said, "During the raid on Coast Guard, Nizampur Station CC Matiur Rahman on June 19 in Dholai Market, the lock of the shutter of the Russell Fish was not broken. One side was open. At that time there was a heated exchange with a man named Harun Talukdar, which later settled down. In that day's campaign, he said to sell fish worth 1000 taka at auction and fine 1000 taka.'

Sub-Inspector Sekandar Miah, who is in additional charge of Kuakata Naval Police Inspector, said, The naval police are performing their duties cautiously in the Kuakata coast during the 65-day ban. However, there is no arrest or seizure in their operation. Naval Police Barisal Zone Superintendent of Police Md. Kofil Uddin avoided the issue saying that the department has some administrative issues regarding the transfer of Naval Police Inspector Akhtar Morshed. District Fisheries Officer Kamrul Islam said, the operation is continuing in the sea in coordination with the Fisheries Department,

Coast Guard and Navy to protect the fish resources. However, some opportunistic fishermen are catching fish. They are also being fined and jailed.

Mir Mohammad Ali, Assistant Professor of Fisheries Aquaculture and Marine Science Faculty of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,

Dhaka, said that the government's fisheries development program is not succeeding because of a handful of fish traders and fishermen.

Prohibition on increasing fish production including breeding of about 475 species of fish. At this time, hunting fish means destroying fish species. Everyone should understand this for the sake of the country. Gofran Biswas Palash