Our Correspondent :
A dire scanty of fish is found in the River Padma this year. At Hardinge Bridge Point, upstream and downstream of the River, fishermen are working hard at day and night with boats and nets, but fishes are not enough. Talking to the fishermen of Guripara, Sara and Laksikunda Union of Pakshi Union on the banks of Padma, scenarios about their miserable life have come to light. The families of Ishwardi fishermen are living a dehumanized life due to lack of fish.
Sardar Asit, a fisherman from Guripara, said he was going to fish in the river every day with boats and nets. Someday someone gets one or two, but never again. This was not the case even two years ago. Now the fishermen of the area are starving to death due to lack of fish. He said the situation was similar for 80 tribal families in Guripara who made a living by fishing. The fishermen of the area are living a life of unemployment without any other work except catching six.
Ashok Sahani of Guripara said, “After falling into the river all night, some returned home in the morning with one poya and some half a kilo of fish. Selling this fish does not cover the other expenses of the world.
Abdul Aziz, storekeeper of the fish market, said the fishermen used to catch fish all day and bring the fish from evening till 10 pm. Earlier, all kinds of fish including bamcha, shrimp, gangari, bamboo leaf, piyali, kagchi fish were imported in Padma at that time. Now if you stay awake at night, some days 10-20 kg of fish is imported. Never again. Upazila Social Service Officer Masud Rana said, “The names that come to us through the members or chairman of the Union Parishad are included in the allowance.”
