Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the Bangladesh government had already taken steps to revivify water bodies across the country aimed at boosting fish production.
“We have already taken decision to bring back all of our water bodies such as pond, khal (canal) and beel to its earlier position to increase the production of fisheries,” she said while inaugurating the ‘National Fisheries Week-2019’ at Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh (KIB) here.
She said, The government has already given instruction to the authorities concerned to take prompt measures to this end.
Calling upon all not to keep any water body unused, the premier said the government has taken ‘My House My Farm’ project to meet the demand of fish as well as bring financial solvency.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for a greater emphasis on production, processing, and marketing of fishes.
The Prime Minister said she believes that fish can become Bangladesh’s main export item if the country ensures a sustainable use of its aquatic resources and wetlands.
Mentioning that fisheries sector met 60 percent of the national demand of protein, the Prime Minister reminded audience about her government’s historic maritime boundary victory over Myanmar and India.
Bangladesh has potential of fisheries resources in the sea which needs to be extracted, she said, adding “So, the government has put emphasis on blue economy”.
Sheikh Hasina said her government adopted the policy ‘Jaal Jaar Jola Taar’ (those who own fishing nets own water bodies) so that the genuine fishermen can get the wetland.
Laboratories have already been set up in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna to maintain the quality and standards of the exportable items while steps have been taken to examine the exportable fisheries items to maintain their hygiene, she said.
The prime minister underscored the need for dredging of the rivers to maintain biodiversity as well as help boosting fisheries production.
Later, the prime minister released fries into Gananbhaban Lake, marking the National Fisheries Week 2019.
