The National Fisheries Week was inaugurated in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Wednesday with various activities, including colorful rally, discussion, releasing fish fries and distributing honorary crest to the farmers who had special contribution to fish production.
Member of Parliament (MP) of Pabna-4 Constituency Galibur Rahman Sherif inaugurated the programme jointly arranged by Upazila Administration and Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer’s Office. He delivered the speech of the chief guest in the discussion held at the upazila conference room. The motto of the National Fisheries Week is “Bhorbo Mache Moder Desh, Gorbo Smart Bangladesh.”
MP Galibur Rahman Sherif put emphasize on safe fish farming saying fishes fulfill the most demands for protein in our country. However, if we use poultry wastes as fish feeds, the result will be devastating. It will be degrading thing for humanity. The MP requested not to do that to those who use poultry wastes as fish feed.
He also said that he would discuss with the department concerned so that the fish farmers can easily get fisheries loan and agricultural meters.
MP Galibur Rahman Sherif said these in the inauguration programme of National Fisheries Week held on Ishwardi on Wednesday.
Upazila Chairman Emdadul Haque Rana Sardar delivered the speech of the sprecial guest in the programme. The meeting was presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Subir Kumar Das, with Senior Upazila Fisheris Officer Md Abdur Rahman delivering the welcoming speech. Heroic Freedom Fighter Tohorul Molla, president of Ishwardi Press Club Mostak Ahmed Kiron, fishe farmer and Municipaity Panel Mayor Abul Hashem and Habibur Rahman also spoke in the meeting. Upazila Vice Chairman Abus Salam Khan, Female Vice Chairman Mst Ferdous, varoiues department heads of the upazila administration, fish farmers, media workers and others were present in the programme.
A colorful procession was brought out before the discussion from upazila parishad premise and cricled around the upazila road. Later, chief guest MP Galibur Rahman Sherif released fish fries in the upazila premise pond.
Fish farmer Abul Hashem and Habibur Rahman Habib said in the meeting that some fish farmers use poultry wastes as fish feed which is very harmful for human beings. They requested the MP and upazila administration to take measures to stop this practice. They also sought their assistance to get loans and agricultural meters easily in order to increase the fish production.
Sorces from Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer’s Office said among the week-long activities, there are releasing fish fries is important water bodies, view exchange meeting with fish marmers and fishermen, providing advices and training, distributing legal fishnets among the beneficiaries, distributing fish feed and materials for alternative employment, physicochemical testing of water in water bodies and campaigning and showing documentaries on progress and development in fisheries sector.
Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Abdur Rahman said fishes are farmed in 2,473 ponds, one river, as well as in canals and other water bodies. There are 1,003 hecateres of water bodies and 9 fishe markets in the upazila. The number of registered fishermen are 1,693 and there are 1,715 fish farmers. The anual demand of fishes in Ishwardi upazila is 6,643 metric tonnes and the amount of fish production in the upazila is 260 metric tonnes more than the demand. He said emphasize has to be put to increase fish production more by using proper and eco-friendly technologies.
Awards and honorary crests were distributed among four fish farmers and a fisheries association of the upazila for special contriution in various sectors of fish production. MP Galibur Rahman Sherif handed over the award and honorary crests to them.
