PM for strong action against unethical fish farming

Staff Correspondent: Issuing strong warning against fish cultivation in the rivers, canal and other natural waterbodies by obstructing their natural flow, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to take stern action against the offenders.

The Prime Minister gave the directive while inaugurating the National Fisheries Week-2015 at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital on Wednesday morning.

She said some persons are cultivating fish unethically in the rivers, canal and other natural waterbodies in different parts of the country including the Sundarbans by obstructing their natural flow.

"It won`t be allowed in any way. You will have to see that who are the influential persons destroying our rivers and canals. Whatever stern action is needed you will have to take against them," she said.

The PM asked the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry to take effective steps for tapping the resources from the country`s vast maritime areas.

"We`ve got a huge maritime boundary...it`s almost 118,813 square kilometres, we must tap the resources from there, as we`re still lagging behind in this regard," she said.

About the export of fish and fish items, Hasina laid emphasis on strictly maintaining the standard and quality of the export items.
 
"Whenever we want to export something, the standard and quality of the items come first and that`s most important because if the quality and standard are not maintained then the market will be closed for us," she reminded the exporters.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayedul Haque presided over the function organized by the Department of Fisheries.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda was the special guest, while Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Selina Afroza and Director General of the Department of Fisheries Syed Arif Azad spoke at the function.

risingbd/DHAKA/July 29, 2015/Nripen/Augustin Sujan