Bangladesh has been declared as the fourth largest inland fish producer in the world and will soon meet self sustainment in fisheries production, said the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Muhammad Sayedul Hoque.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has kept Bangladesh in the top five in agricultural productions for the last 12 years and now declared it to be the fourth largest fish producer in the world.
The minister while speaking at the first day of the National Fisheries Week-2015 programme lauded the government’s role in increasing fisheries production and protection.
A rally was taken out from the Matsya Bhaban earlier in the day to mark the inauguration of the Fisheries Week.
“Bangladesh currently has the demand for 4.2 million tons of fish for the 1.6 billion population. The county will soon be able to meet the internal demands and export fisheries worldwide,” the minister said while speaking at the programme.
The minister said that proper initiatives taken by the Awami League government have helped increase production of fish to 3.5 million tons from the 2.7 million tons in 2008-9 Fiscal Year.
Statistical data of recent times show that only bigger countries like China, India and Myanmar are now above Bangladesh in case of fish production.
The minister mentioned while speaking that 2 million fishermen would be given identification documents from the government within 2015.
“Hilsha contributes nearly 11 percent of the sector’s earnings and for ensuring the proper reproduction of the fish, Hilsha fishing ban has been extended by 15 days during the breeding season,” the minister said in his speech.
He said initiatives have been taken to form a ‘Hilsha Development Trust Fund’ for sustainable produce of the fish.
Source: Ittefaq
