Over 500 fish farmers in Moheshpur upazila have been badly affected after rain water flooded their ponds in the past five days.
Sources in Jhenidah Fisheries Department said different verities of fishes worth several crores have been washed away from small and big ponds in Moheshpur upazila by torrent of water.
Moshiar Rahman of Shasta Bazaar of Moheshpur upazila said: “I am totally ruined. My main business is fish farming. Heavy rain has flooded my ponds. Fish worth Tk 5 lakh have been washed away from my two ponds. I took Tk 150,000 loan from a local non-government organisation six months ago.”
Hamidul Islam, Zakir Hossain of Nolpatua village said: “Our area is full of water bodies like ponds, ditches, canals, haors and baors. Average people are directly or indirectly engaged with fish farming in this area. We have lost fish worth Tk 20 lakh due to heavy rains as our water bodies have been inundated,” they added.
Habibur Rahman and Abbas Ali of same village said they are trading fish for a long time by taking lease of Nolpatua Beel that covers an area of 100 bighas of land. “At least 100 people work there. How can we pay them salary and eid bonuses before the eid?. “Over 50 lakh taka worth of fish has gone free from the beel,” they lamented.
Nirbahi officer of Moheshpur upazila Nasima Khatun said several ponds and beels have over-flooded due to heavy rain in the last five days. We have asked the local chairmen to give us the list of affected people. We will take action after getting the list.” She said.
Officer of Fisheries Department Kanailal Hawladar and MP Nabi Newaz said Moheshpur upazila is the main fish supply area of the district. Most water bodies have been inundated by rain water. The affected fish traders will get aid, they said.