Didarul Alam Raju, Khagrachhari :
Sujon Ali (54), the resident of Sylhetipara area of Mahalchhari upazila of Khagrachhari district. He runs his family which is consisted with 6 member by fishing in Kaptai Lake. But there is a ban on fishing in the lake from this month. As a result, due to the closure of his income, including his family he passed his day by struggling. But Sujon Ali is a Government registered fisherman.
During off fishing period, Sujan Ali, who was supposed to get ration and cash in the government, but not getting any of these things. Sujon Ali is officially supposed to get ration and cash, but he is not getting anything of these.
Sujon Ali said, “in the month of Ramadan, the expenditure is more than the other month, but there is no income for 10-12 days. I’ve been hearing every year that we will be given government help. But it is not happening in reality.”
“Locals are concerned about the crisis of employment during the ban time,” he added.
Not only Sujon Ali, but also 1,591 of fishermen’s family of Mahalchhari upazila and 1,185 of fishermen’s family of Dighinala upazila in Khagrachari district have been suffering. These fisheries were registered officially in 2014. Their credentials were given on March 29, 2015.
There remain a ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake from 1st May to 31st July for protect juvenile fish and increase natural breeding. But during the ban period, no initiative has been taken for the employment and rehabilitation of the fishermen here.
According to the rules, during the fishing closure period, every family of fishermen will get 40 kg of rice and one thousand taka per month. But they are all deprived of this help. There is no help from the government till now.
Fisheries Co-operative Association’s president of Mahalchhari Abul Kalam said, “our only occupation is fishing in Kaptai Lake. Our generation have been living our livelihood through fishing. We are giving regular revenue to the government, but there is no good eye of government on our side.”
Officer-in-Charge of Mahalchhari sub-station of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) Nasrullah Ahmed said, “In the financial year of 2017-18, revenue from the fishermen of Mahalchhari was collected 82 million 71 thousand 521 taka. Whereas the registered fisheries across the country get government help but fishermen of Mahalchhari are not getting this, it is inhuman.”
“As a result, despite fishing restrictions, many of them go to catch fish secretly due to poverty. Again, a local scheming group has influenced ordinary fishermen to steal fishing,” he added.
Officer-in-charge of Mahalchhari upazila Fishery Prabin Chandra Chakma said, “The fishermen list is prepared in every year and sent to the concerned senior office, but it does not have any effective results.
Sujon Ali (54), the resident of Sylhetipara area of Mahalchhari upazila of Khagrachhari district. He runs his family which is consisted with 6 member by fishing in Kaptai Lake. But there is a ban on fishing in the lake from this month. As a result, due to the closure of his income, including his family he passed his day by struggling. But Sujon Ali is a Government registered fisherman.
During off fishing period, Sujan Ali, who was supposed to get ration and cash in the government, but not getting any of these things. Sujon Ali is officially supposed to get ration and cash, but he is not getting anything of these.
Sujon Ali said, “in the month of Ramadan, the expenditure is more than the other month, but there is no income for 10-12 days. I’ve been hearing every year that we will be given government help. But it is not happening in reality.”
“Locals are concerned about the crisis of employment during the ban time,” he added.
Not only Sujon Ali, but also 1,591 of fishermen’s family of Mahalchhari upazila and 1,185 of fishermen’s family of Dighinala upazila in Khagrachari district have been suffering. These fisheries were registered officially in 2014. Their credentials were given on March 29, 2015.
There remain a ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake from 1st May to 31st July for protect juvenile fish and increase natural breeding. But during the ban period, no initiative has been taken for the employment and rehabilitation of the fishermen here.
According to the rules, during the fishing closure period, every family of fishermen will get 40 kg of rice and one thousand taka per month. But they are all deprived of this help. There is no help from the government till now.
Fisheries Co-operative Association’s president of Mahalchhari Abul Kalam said, “our only occupation is fishing in Kaptai Lake. Our generation have been living our livelihood through fishing. We are giving regular revenue to the government, but there is no good eye of government on our side.”
Officer-in-Charge of Mahalchhari sub-station of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) Nasrullah Ahmed said, “In the financial year of 2017-18, revenue from the fishermen of Mahalchhari was collected 82 million 71 thousand 521 taka. Whereas the registered fisheries across the country get government help but fishermen of Mahalchhari are not getting this, it is inhuman.”
“As a result, despite fishing restrictions, many of them go to catch fish secretly due to poverty. Again, a local scheming group has influenced ordinary fishermen to steal fishing,” he added.
Officer-in-charge of Mahalchhari upazila Fishery Prabin Chandra Chakma said, “The fishermen list is prepared in every year and sent to the concerned senior office, but it does not have any effective results.
