Leasing out haor areas should be stopped: Adviser Farida
A discriminatory system has been maintained around the haor regions where around 29% people still live below the poverty line, she says
Calling for the end of leasing out haor areas in the greater interest of genuine fish farmers, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today (19 April) said haors are the rights of the locals and those must be protected.
"Leasing of any haor areas should be stopped . . . There should be no lease in haor areas," she said while speaking as the chief guest at the "Government Water Management Policy 2009: Discrimination and Mismanagement in Haor Areas" at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
The adviser said a discriminatory system has been maintained around the haor regions where around 29% people still live below the poverty line.
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Referring to the "All Weather Road" built in Mithamoin of Kishoreganj, the adviser said it was learned that the construction of this road has already caused immense damage to that area.
She said, "We have already closed the current net for fishing. But presently fishing is being done with a net called Chinaduari. These must be closed."
The adviser put emphasis on declaring various areas as sanctuaries as a step to protect the haor areas.
Noting that a section of fishermen and also in the name of the fishermen's association backed by the politically influential people and their supporters usually take haor leases behind the scenes, the adviser urged the government to ensure that actual ordinary fishermen or fish farmers can get haor bills lease.
Convener of Dharitri Raksha Amara (DHORA) Rasheda K Chowdhury presided over the programme. Director of Associates for Innovative Research and Development (AIRD) Abdul Hye Chowdhury presented topics while DHORA's Member Secretary Sharif Jamil moderated the discussion.
Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, former Secretary and ex-Chairman of the National River Protection Commission Dr Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Director of Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BRCIK) Pavel Partha, Founding Chairman of the Haor Cultural Studies and Research Academy Sajal Kanti Sarker, Human Rights Activist Zakia Shishir, Convener of the Haor Development Movement, Advocate Farid Uddin Ahmed and Executive Director of the Centre for Natural Resource Studies Dr M Mokhlesur Rahman among others spoke on the occasion.
