Adviser calls for strict adherence to fishing ban

Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar has urged fishermen to strictly comply with fishing bans to protect natural fish stocks, warning that the future of Bangladesh's fisheries depends on collective conservation efforts.

"The fish that fishermen catch in our rivers and seas are natural. If we do not protect them now, there will be no fish to catch in the future," she said. "We must obey the law during the fishing ban. If we obey the law, the fishermen will actually benefit."

She made these remarks while addressing the 12th National Conference 2025 of the Bangladesh Small Scale Fishermen and Fishermen Association, held at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Praising the role of fishermen, the advisor said, "You are the ones who feed the people of this country. You are not small — you are a large and vital group contributing to our food security."

She noted that the Coast Guard, Navy, and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent illegal fishing by foreign vessels within Bangladesh's maritime boundaries. The advisor also mentioned that the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Finance have been requested to increase rice allocation under the VGF programme for fishermen during the ban period.

"I will work for you as long as I am in the government," she said, adding that plans are underway to provide at least 50kg of rice and explore the possibility of financial assistance during the fishing restriction period.

Addressing fishermen's debt burden, she revealed that discussions are ongoing with Bangladesh Bank to introduce low-interest loans so that fishermen are not forced into exploitative fish farming cycles.

Highlighting the risks faced by fishermen during natural disasters, she said, "Many go missing or lose their lives at sea, leaving their families without support. We are in talks with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to create an effective mechanism to assist the families of missing fishermen."

She also pointed out that river chars and siltation are obstructing fish movement and breeding. "We have requested the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Water Resources to carry out dredging during the dry season," she said.

During the conference, fishermen's representatives placed six key demands to improve their livelihoods and ensure fair rights. These include repealing the 2013 circular and reinstating the 2008 version, ensuring fishermen's signatures in VGF distribution lists, establishing a specialised Fishermen's Bank, increasing VGF assistance to 60kg of rice and Tk 2,000, providing Tk 5 lakh compensation for deaths during the fishing ban, and including fishermen's representatives in Coast Guard, Naval Police, and Fisheries Department operations.

The conference was chaired by Freedom Fighter Israil Khalil Pandit, President of the Bangladesh Small Fishermen's Association. Among others, Dr. Md. Motaleb Hossain, Director, Department of Fisheries; Advocate M. Helal Uddin, Assistant Attorney General of the BGB Tribunal; Md. Humayun Kabir, Additional PP, Barisal Judge Court; Mosadek Hossain Swapan, President, Bangladesh United Workers' Federation; and Taslima Begum, member of the Fishermen's Association, also spoke.

Members of the Bangladesh Small Fishermen's Association from across the country attended the event.