Fishing activities in Kaptai Lake resumed at midnight on Saturday after a three-month government-imposed restriction aimed at supporting natural fish reproduction, particularly of carp species.
Fish began arriving early Sunday at the four landing stations of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC), marking the official return to full-scale fishing in South Asia's largest man-made lake.
The ban, which began on May 1, was initially set to end on July 31. However, following a BFDC meeting on July 28, it was extended by two days, until August 2, to allow time for logistical preparations.
Commander Md. Fayez Al Karim, BFDC’s Rangamati Manager, confirmed that all fishing, marketing, and transportation activities officially restarted from midnight. “We are optimistic that this year’s catch will exceed last year’s target,” he said, noting that preparations at the landing stations were complete.
Despite the reopening, fishermen expressed concern over the size and quality of the fish, attributing it to rising water levels that have disrupted fish growth. They reported that many larger fish died due to heavy rainfall and swelling of lake waters. Traders, too, were dissatisfied, citing small-sized catches such as kachki and chapila.
Fishermen believe a 15-day delay in lifting the ban could have significantly boosted profits, estimating that the current haul worth Tk 1 crore could have fetched over Tk 4 crore if the fish had matured further.
Kaptai Lake, formed in 1960 following the construction of a dam on the Karnaphuli River in Rangamati, spans 725 square kilometres. It submerged over 54,000 hectares of agricultural land and today not only contributes 230 megawatts of electricity through the Kaptai Hydropower Station but also supports the livelihoods of around 27,000 fishermen through its robust fishery resources.
