Due to ban country’s fishermen are off from fishing while foreign fishermen fishing
Fishermen from Mongla and surrounding coasts are stranded at home due to government ban to save mother hilsa. They have no rice in their house and no food in their stomach as they have no income as they cannot cast their nets in the river. The government allotted rice for the ban is not getting the help at the right time. Even then, there are various complaints from fishermen about not getting food aid cards. While the fishermen of this country are observing the ban, the foreign fishermen are looting different species of fish including mother hilsa from the sea. As a result, the fishermen of this country are suffering.
It has been learned from the search of the fisherman's family on the spot that the ban for mother hilsa conservation is going on in Sea-Sundarbans at present. The 22-day ban, so fishermen's nets, ropes and boat-trawlers on the Mongla Sea and the Sundarbans coast are now lazy at the wharf. There is no other job opportunity for all these people in the prison profession. So they are spending time sitting at home unemployed. There is no income as they cannot cast their nets in the river. That is why thousands of families of fishermen are living a miserable life without eating. There is no one to see their sorrow. The fishermen relief card issued by the local people's representatives also has kinship. As a result, real fishermen are being deprived of that card. Even those who have cards have not yet received food aid during the current blan. The fishermen did not get food aid even after the previous 65-day blockade. So the families of the fishermen on the banks of the river Pashur are in extreme distress. In addition to the change in the local people's representatives in the election, the ownership of the fishermen's cards is also changing.
Sujan Sarkar, a fisherman from Chandpai Union, who fishes in the sea-river, said, "I have a fisherman's card, I only got rice once." Now I hear my card member has been dropped.
Durjoy Haldar, a member of Ward 9 of Chandpai Union, said people who are not fishermen have also received the card. So excluding them, real fishermen are not being given cards. He added that many fishermen were not listed as they were in Sea-Sundarbans at the time of making the card. I have requested the Fisheries Officials to include the excluded in the new list.
"We have not yet received any food aid from the current 22-day ban," said Rokon Sarkar, a Chila area fisherman. We are in a lot of trouble; we are appealing to the government for help.
"Our job is to catch fish in the river," said Anjan, a fisherman in the Chila area. There is no work now that it is closed; I am in a lot of trouble. We demand the government to get quick help.
Gabriel Sardar, a fisherman from Kanainagar village, said, "I have been a fisherman all my life. I have not received any card even today." Fisherman leader Bidyut Babu asked for Tk. 18 to get the card, but could not give it.
Kamala Sarkar of Dakshin Kainmari village said that 95 per cent of our people are in fishermen. Many fishermen have cards, they don't get rice, I don't know what the problem is. And those who are given rice do not follow it. "Fishing is now banned in our country and Indian fishermen are taking this opportunity to catch fish from our seas," he added. So what is the benefit of this ban of the government. Many such fishermen complained that they were sitting at home in compliance with the government ban. On that occasion, Indian fishermen are looting fish from the sea. So what does ban mean? In addition, the ban has not yet received food aid. We have been fishing in the river for years and yet the identity of fishermen has not been recognized. People who are not in jail are getting help cards. I tell everyone about our sorrow but it doesn't work.
Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Zahidul Islam said food aid to fishermen would be provided soon, and a new list was being drawn up for fishermen. When this is done, many will come to the aid. Those who are not actual fishermen will be excluded. Again real fishermen like time may be left out as they do not give information. He further said that he has also heard about the allegations of various irregularities in the distribution of fishermen cards. So to prevent irregularities, he is working on card registration himself. On the other hand, in response to the allegation of foreign fishermen taking fish from the sea during the ongoing ban, he said that the matter has been discussed with the Navy and Coast Guard to take it seriously. They are looking into the matter. And we are conducting joint operations with the Coast Guard.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamlesh Majumder said, "Letters have already been sent to the Coast Guard and Navy to increase patrols in our seas." Even then, the members of the Navy-Coast Guard are arresting those who are entering the sea of this country and handing them over to the police.