Tarash (Sirajganj) Correspondent
Currently the National Fisheries Week is going all across the country. The fisheries week is also being observed in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj alike other areas of the country. However, it seems that the fisheries week is only being observed in papers in the upazila.
Chalanbeel inhabited Tarash Upazila is hosting a festival to kill fish fries using the banned current net. Concerned citizen of the area complain that the people of the Upazila Fisheries Department office are sitting quietly in the office even after knowing everything.
It is learned that on the one hand, the National Fisheries Week is going on and on the other hand, fish fry are being killed in rivers and canals, freely using prohibited Badai, China and current nets whereas, fishing with fish fry in the current net is strictly banned by the government. However, as there is no alternative livelihood for the fishermen of the upazila, they are catching and selling fish fries from canals and Beel with banned nets.
Locals including Abdul Majid, Abdul Mannan and teacher Zahurul Islam said, “Local fishermen takes the banned China net, Badai net and current net and hunt fish fries from evening to morning and again from dawn to afternoon every day.”
Each of the fishing teams are formed with a group of 8-10 fishermen.
They are seen hunting fish fries with prohibited nets in the local canal and beels. These mother fish and fish fries are being sold in villages and local markets in different parts of the country. The people of the Upazila Fisheries Department remain silent and are wasting government money in the name of Fisheries Week, they complained further.
In this regard, Tarash Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Mashgul Azad said, National Fisheries Week is going on in Tarash like the rest of the country. Moreover, fishing with forbidden current and other nets is prohibited at all times. The campaign against the use of banned current, Badai and China nets is ongoing and will continue in future as well.
