Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Even in the full monsoon season, there are no fish in the sacred Padma. In the months of Asadha-Shravan, the ups and downs of the youthful Padma crash on both sides. But this time there is no water in Padma. As there is no flow of water, fishermen are not busy fishing. Fishermen with boats and nets are plowing day and night in the river, but no fish are seen. At Pakshi’s Hardinge Bridge Point, Sara Ghat and Laxmikunda, fishermen are not getting much fish in their nets.
Fishermen of Pakshi Gudipara, Sara Blockpara, Ghat No. 5 and Laxmikunda are living a miserable life without more fish.
On the surface, it can be seen that the fishermen are returning to the ghat one by one with their boats after catching fish during the night. The fish caught at night is being brought to Sara Ghat for sale. The fishermen are disappointed to see the fish caught in the net overnight. By selling this fish, they unable for making ends meet.
Shusil, a fisherman in the Sara Ghat area, said that there should be Toitambu water in the river during the month of Shravan. But this time there is no water or fish. Catching fish day and night does not fetch more than 200-300 taka. So many people are not going to fish in the river. Spending idle and idle time.
Hazra Mandal said, I have been fishing since I was ten years old. Now over 40. We are caste fishermen. Both fathers and grandfathers spent their lives fishing in the Padma. I have never seen such a shortage of fish. Fished with 5 boats all night. I sold it for 2,500 taka in the morning. I paid 1,000 taka to the moneylender for boat and net and divided the remaining 1,500 taka into 300 taka. Another 50 taka was spent for eating and drinking at night. The family does not survive with Tk 250 attendance.
Abul Kashem, president of Sara Matsya Cooperative Society, said that there are 132 members of the society. Apart from the members, the number of jailers in this ghat is about 500 people. Fishermen here catch various types of fish including bacha, shrimp, ganghari, bamboo leaf, piali, kachki. Hilsa is not caught much here now. Fishermen have never seen such hardship before.
Sarada Union Chairman Rana Sardar said that fish is not available in the river. Fishermen are having a hard time. Many people are coming to help. It was not possible to cooperate with them as there was no allocation from the government.
Ishwardi Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer (Additional Charge) Shariful Islam said that Padma is full of water at this time every year. Fish breed in monsoon. This time the fish did not breed because there was no water in the river. Hope the water will rise very soon. If the water rises, so will the fish. The government has distributed free vans, sewing machines and goats to improve the livelihood of fishermen. Last year they were distributed among the fishermen but this time no allocation was found for distribution. He said that the allocation will be distributed among the fishermen.
