Ban on fishing in haors lifted
People reluctant to buy fish out of fear
Despite withdrawal of the ban on catching fish in haors (wetlands) of Sunamganj and Moulvibazar districts yesterday (Tuesday), people are still reluctant to buy and eat fish, fearing for their health. Some of the fishermen said they are unwilling to catch fish, because they think people would not buy it. They said if they catch fish, they would have to sell it in the market. But people are avoiding eating fish now, as they think it might cause health problems.
A large number of fish was found dead in these haors due to pollution.
The local administration came up with the announcement that fishermen are now allowed to catch and sell fish in the market, and people can consume it as the condition of the water has improved.
The deputy commissioner (DC) of Sunamganj district, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, said at a press conference yesterday: Experts have informed us that the water of the haors has improved. Fishes are no longer dying. There is no problem with eating fish caught from the haors. From now on there is no ban on catching fish and consuming it, he asserted.
The Kulaura fisheries department of Moulvibazar district yesterday also lifted the ban on fishing in the Hakaluki haor.
In a public advertisement, the department said it would withdraw the ban on fishing in the haor from Tuesday, according to Sultan Mahmud, senior fisheries officer of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar.
The ban on fishing in the haors was imposed on April 17 following the death of fishes and ducks after early flash floods.
The production of fish at the Hakaluki haor is about 14,000 metric tonnes each year. But there was a loss of 25 metric tonnes because of the flash floods, which hit relatively early, said AKM Shafiquzzaman, fisheries officer of the Moulvibazar fisheries department.
To make up for the loss, 18 lakh fish fries will be released into the haor this June, he added.
Our Sunamganj Correspondent said crops in 142 haors in the district have been destroyed by the flash floods and heavy rain, putting farmers in a dire strait.
The report said the overall situation of the area has not improved yet as many areas are still under water.
As people of the area are largely dependent on paddy and fish, they are facing a food crisis.
Helpless farmers are frantically trying to harvest their submerged paddy in the hope of getting a morsel of rice out of it.
The government has started selling rice under the open market sale (OMS) scheme through 40 dealers in Sunamganj district, but the number of dealers is not sufficient. A large number of people is having to stand in queues for hours.
Some alleged that dealers are selling rice to their own people, while the needy are being deprived. Even if they buy rice at Tk. 15 per kilo, they are given 200 to 300 grams less in each kilo, they alleged.
People demanded strict monitoring by the government to stop misappropriation of rice and more dealers to tackle the situation.
Sunamganj DC Sheikh Rafiqul Islam also admitted to the shortage of dealers. We have sent letters to the ministry to increase the number of dealers as 1,000/1,500 people wait for hours to get rice.
The Palli Karma-Sohayak Foundation (PKSF) announced in a press release yesterday interest-free loans of Tk. 20 crore for the affected people in the haor areas. The PKSF has directed that collection of previous loan instalments from those affected be stopped. Besides, it has given the opportunity to its members to withdraw money from savings funds.
