Rights of Genuine Fisherfolk Must Be Ensured, Says Adviser During Visit to Community-Based Fisheries Project in Sirajganj

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter announced that the government is planning to reform the current policy for leasing water bodies to ensure that genuine fisherfolk receive priority in access and rights. She made this statement during a visit to the Community-Based Fisheries Resource Management Project in the Nimgachi area of Raiganj upazila in Sirajganj on Sunday, July 6.

Speaking as the chief guest at a consultation meeting with project beneficiaries, Adviser Farida Akhter emphasized that the leasing of haors, baors, beels, and other water bodies across Bangladesh has been fraught with complications and mismanagement. She asserted that the people whose livelihoods depend on fisheries must be recognized as the rightful stakeholders in these natural resources, and the existing leasing system must reflect that reality.

In her address, Farida Akhter also highlighted the role of youth during recent political movements in July, stating that many students and young people risked their lives to bring about major changes in the country. She stressed that if the government fails to provide employment opportunities and training for these youth, it would be a collective failure of the administration.

The consultation meeting was chaired by Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Nazrul Islam. Other speakers at the event included Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, District Fisheries Officer Shahinur Rahman, Project Director of the Nimgachi Community-Based Fisheries Management Project Shahidul Islam, Raiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Humayun Kabir, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of the upazila Mosammat Khadija Khatun, and Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Shariful Islam.

Earlier in the day, the adviser attended a courtyard meeting with marginal poultry farmers in Bashail village under Sonakhara Union. The event was organized by UTC to promote knowledge sharing on duck and poultry farming. During her visit, she also released fish into the Jayasagar Dighi, reinforcing the government’s commitment to boosting community-based fishery practices and increasing sustainable fish production.

The adviser’s visit aimed to assess the progress of ongoing fisheries projects and to listen directly to the experiences and concerns of the local stakeholders. Her comments on reforming the water body leasing policy reflect growing pressure on the government to ensure equitable resource access, particularly for marginalized rural communities dependent on fishing for their livelihoods.