Barishal Correspondent :
Most of the fishermen of Barishal Division have no Eid festival mood as they have been deprived from earning sources to maintain livelihood due to restrictions imposed in different times of the year by the Directorate of Fisheries.
In Barishal Division 2, 87943 out of 3, 52724 fishermen families received VGF (vulnerable group feeding) assistances.
However half of the total numbers of fishermen in the division still do not have ID cards, so they are facing hard times for living, acknowledged Azizul Islam, acting divisional fishery officer.
Sanjib Sannamat, Barishal Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer, said only 1889 out of 4500, only forty percent fishermen of the upazila got VGF support program (VGF).
Mentionable fishermen mostly remain idle due to an eight months ban on catching ‘Jatka'(hilsa fry less than 9 inch or 23 centimeters in length) from November 1 to June 30, two months (March-April) ban against Hilsha fishing in four sanctuaries of this fish and twenty-two day (October 7-29) ban on Hilsha fishing in seven thousand kilometers area in the country.
Besides for the first time, government has imposed a 65-day ban on fishing in the sea from May 20 to July 23, to ensure smooth breeding of the sea fishes, fishery department sources said.
Besides, many fishermen took loans at high rates of interest from local ‘Mohajons’ (wealthy persons who usually lend out money) to continue their lively hood.
In this situation Muhammad Hossain, 40,one of fisherman is weaving his net at his residence at Veduria village of Chandramohon union under Barishal Sadar Upazila, told that they only get 35 kg rice per two month for his six members of family against November – June eight month ban jatka netting in river.
Kader Maji, another fisherman alleged that in spite of fisherman he was not enlisted in the list and could not received any VGF support from government.
After visiting fishermen residential area (Jeley Pally) at Veduria village it was found most of fishermen family deprived from getting VGF support and they were feeling sad on eve of Eid-Ul-Fitr festival.
In this village over 1200 fishermen depending on catching fish in the river to maintain family, only 535 fishermen got VGF rice support’ he added.
How we will celebrate Eid festival with family members and how we could buy any new cloth for my children, when our family failing to earn livelihood, said Hasina one of mother of a fishermen family.
Most of the people of this village repairing their nets.
Defying ban some of fishermen catching jatka fish with current net illegally, acknowledged Yousuf Ali, one of the fishermen of that village.
We are facing tough times because we have no alternative profession, said Rafiq Maji another fisherman of the village.
Some of our fishermen went to catch fish in coastal area, but now government also imposed ban against that said fishermen of the area.
So we have no joy for observing Eid festival. Eid brings only sufferings for us, said Rahima, one of mother of a child in that village.
Most of the fishermen of Barishal Division have no Eid festival mood as they have been deprived from earning sources to maintain livelihood due to restrictions imposed in different times of the year by the Directorate of Fisheries.
In Barishal Division 2, 87943 out of 3, 52724 fishermen families received VGF (vulnerable group feeding) assistances.
However half of the total numbers of fishermen in the division still do not have ID cards, so they are facing hard times for living, acknowledged Azizul Islam, acting divisional fishery officer.
Sanjib Sannamat, Barishal Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer, said only 1889 out of 4500, only forty percent fishermen of the upazila got VGF support program (VGF).
Mentionable fishermen mostly remain idle due to an eight months ban on catching ‘Jatka'(hilsa fry less than 9 inch or 23 centimeters in length) from November 1 to June 30, two months (March-April) ban against Hilsha fishing in four sanctuaries of this fish and twenty-two day (October 7-29) ban on Hilsha fishing in seven thousand kilometers area in the country.
Besides for the first time, government has imposed a 65-day ban on fishing in the sea from May 20 to July 23, to ensure smooth breeding of the sea fishes, fishery department sources said.
Besides, many fishermen took loans at high rates of interest from local ‘Mohajons’ (wealthy persons who usually lend out money) to continue their lively hood.
In this situation Muhammad Hossain, 40,one of fisherman is weaving his net at his residence at Veduria village of Chandramohon union under Barishal Sadar Upazila, told that they only get 35 kg rice per two month for his six members of family against November – June eight month ban jatka netting in river.
Kader Maji, another fisherman alleged that in spite of fisherman he was not enlisted in the list and could not received any VGF support from government.
After visiting fishermen residential area (Jeley Pally) at Veduria village it was found most of fishermen family deprived from getting VGF support and they were feeling sad on eve of Eid-Ul-Fitr festival.
In this village over 1200 fishermen depending on catching fish in the river to maintain family, only 535 fishermen got VGF rice support’ he added.
How we will celebrate Eid festival with family members and how we could buy any new cloth for my children, when our family failing to earn livelihood, said Hasina one of mother of a fishermen family.
Most of the people of this village repairing their nets.
Defying ban some of fishermen catching jatka fish with current net illegally, acknowledged Yousuf Ali, one of the fishermen of that village.
We are facing tough times because we have no alternative profession, said Rafiq Maji another fisherman of the village.
Some of our fishermen went to catch fish in coastal area, but now government also imposed ban against that said fishermen of the area.
So we have no joy for observing Eid festival. Eid brings only sufferings for us, said Rahima, one of mother of a child in that village.
