After a 65-day ban, fishermen in Cox’s Bazar and its surrounding areas are still unable to catch fishes due to rough weather.
The 65-day ban was ended on Tuesday night.
The trawler owners could not take preparations for fishing as they could not manage enough money during the ongoing situation. Moreover, the rough weather in the sea has come in their way as a hurdle.
The preparations were taken in the fishery Ghat and coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar to go for fishing for the last week. However, the enthusiasm of the fishermen in the area decreased on Wednesday due to the violence.
Cox’s Bazar District Fisheries Business Association president Joynal Abdin said the banks were closed due to the violent situation and curfew in the country. Many trawler owners could not take preparations to sail their boats in the sea as the fishermen outside of the district town could not come to the town, rough weather and other crises.
According to information of Kasturaghat point of Bakkhali river, Majhirghat, Najirartek, Khurushkul, Kalatali-Darianagar Ghat and other Ghats, the fishermen and labourers passed busy time loading ice, net and food items on Wednesday.
District Fishing Trawler Owners Association General Secretary Delowar Hossain said there are around 7,000 engine-run large and small trawlers in Cox’s Bazar. Around 30 to 40 people work at a large trawler and around 5 to 17 people work at a small trawler. On the other hand, only two fishermen work at a cork sheet boat of Darianagar Ghat. The trawlers take food items of 5 to 10 days. All kinds of fishing boats are at Ghat for a long time due to the ban. The trawlers are now being prepared to sail in the sea.
Fishery Ghat Fisheries Business Association director of Cox’s Bazar Julfikar Ali said the ice mills at different Ghats were closed due to the fishing ban. So, the fisheries businessmen and the fishermen were jobless.
Several trawler owners said many fishermen from Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Bhola, Barishal and other areas work at the trawlers of Cox’s Bazar.
Most of them could not come yet. The trawler owners are facing financial crisis as the banks were closed since Wednesday.
District Fisheries Officer Badruzzaman said 65-day ban was ended on Tuesday midnight. The ban to catch fishes in the Bay of Bengal and river estuary was imposed to ensure the breeding of the sea fishes, including Hilsha. The listed fishermen got 65 kg rice each as they could not go for fishing during the ban, he added.
