Families of 35 fishermen 'missing, killed' at sea since 2014 seek govt aid

Highlights:

• 19 fishermen went missing in November 2015
• Many families never recovered their relatives' bodies
• Families say they have received little or no government support
• Officials promise to seek more assistance for the families

Families of 35 fishermen who went missing or died while fishing in the Bay of Bengal, the sea and the Sundarbans have sought government assistance to rebuild their lives, saying they have been left without adequate support after losing their sole earning members.

The demand was raised at an exchange meeting with families of missing fishermen at the Kachua Upazila Parishad auditorium this morning (12 August).

The participants, mostly women, came from Boga, Bishkhali, Badhal, Bara Andharmanik, Charakhali and Madartala villages in Kachua upazila. Their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons went missing or died while fishing at sea at different times since 2015.

In November that year, 19 fishermen went missing at once. Many families have never recovered their bodies.

Although the Department of Fisheries and the Forest Department have provisions for providing assistance to families of fishermen who die in storms, tidal surges, tiger or crocodile attacks, or other accidents while fishing, many of these families have not received the support because they could not obtain death certificates within the required timeframe.

Having lost the only earning members of their families, the affected households are now struggling to make ends meet. They urged the government to provide financial and other support.

Firoza Begum, a resident of Boga village, said her son, Md Kamal Hossain, went missing while fishing at sea in 2015.

"I went to the sea to search for him after obtaining permission from the deputy commissioner. We could not even recover his body. Out of fear, I did not send my younger son to sea. We have spent our lives in great hardship, and we have received no government assistance because we could not obtain a death certificate," she said.

"If the government could provide my younger son, who has received an education, with a job as a member of a deceased fisherman's family, we might be able to survive," she added.

Another woman, Taslima Begum, said her husband, Jalil Fakir, died while fishing at sea. With no one to support her family, she has been working in people's homes to raise her children.

She said government support could help the family survive.

Shirin Akter said her husband died at sea, leaving behind their three young children. His body was never recovered.

She said she raised her children by working in people's homes, on roads and in fields, but received little assistance despite visiting various government offices seeking support.

She also said the local union parishad did not issue a death certificate because her husband's body was never found.

Ibrahim Amani, a fish trader from Boga, said he used to fish at sea but stopped because of the dangers involved.

"The families of those who went missing are living in extremely difficult conditions. If they are brought under government assistance programmes, they will be able to lead better lives," he said.

Kachua upazila BNP President Sardar Zahid and General Secretary Touhidul Islam were present as special guests.

Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ali Hasan said the assistance currently available to families of missing fishermen was inadequate.

"We will discuss with the relevant authorities and take necessary steps to increase their support and facilities," he said.