State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said Bangladesh is now a role model in the world in Hilsa production. The production of Hilsa in the country was 292 thousand tonnes in 2008-09 which has increased to 533 thousand tonnes in 2018-19.
In other words, the production of Hilsa has increased by about 83 percent in the last one decade.
Before 2009, Hilsa could be found in the rivers of only 21 upazilas of the country. As a result of various Hilsa-friendly programmes of the present ruling Awami League government, Hilsa fish is now being found in the rivers of 125 upazilas.
The common people of the country are now able to buy and eat Hilsa as a lot of Hilsa is being caught in huge numbers.
The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of “International Hilsa, Tourism and Development Festival 2021” organised by ‘Podokkhep Bangladesh’ at Dilkusha Hall of Hotel Purbani International Limited in the capital on Friday afternoon.
The chief guest said that the history of Hilsa in this land is very old. However, since the twelfth century, the regular presence of Hilsa in the language of this country is known. Hilsa has been the name of Bengali's passion ever since. He said that Hilsa is mixed in the sound, decoration, mind and dignity of Bengalis.
Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Shamsunder addressed the function as special guests under the chairmanship of Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique Sikder and Selina Hossain, a prominent novelist and member of the Advisory Council of the Central Executive Council of Bangladesh.
Badal Chowdhury, President of the Central Executive Council of Podokkhep Bangladesh gave a welcome speech on the occasion.
The greetings of the President and the Prime Minister were read out by artist Bulbul Mahlanbish of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and Cultural Secretary of the Central Executive Council of Padakshap Bangladesh Dr Chanchal Shoikat.
