Burir dam celebrates fishing festival at Thakurgaon

Thakurgaon Correspondent
The Shuk River is located between the two unions of Akcha and
Chilarang in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila. And the people of Thakurgaon
are celebrating fishing festival on the Burir dam of the Shuk River. At
the beginning of winter, fishing at the Burir dam is opened for everyone.
In this way, fishing gatherings have been celebrated in the Burir dam
area for years at this time of the beginning of winter.
The five gates of the Burir dam were opened last Tuesday night. Later,
when the water receded, thousands of people from different parts of the
district, including fishermen from several nearby villages, came to fish
from Thursday morning. However, this time they were disappointed
when they came to fish. This is because the fish are catching less this
time compared to other times.

On the spot, it is seen that thousands of people from villages and cities
have taken up positions at the Burir dam in Akcha and Chilarang areas
to fish. Men, women, and children are also among the elderly in this
group. Everyone has come down with nets, poles, hooks and lafijaals. In
addition, those who do not have fishing equipment have also come down
to catch fish with their hands in the muddy water. In addition, fishermen
come to Burir Dam with various fishing equipment including Fika Jaal,
Lafi Jaal, Current Jaal, Ring Jaal, Chatka Jaal and other fishing
equipment to catch fish.

According to the information of the Water Development Board
Thakurgaon, a water sluice was built in the Shuk River flowing between
Achka and Chilarang Unions of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila in 1951-52
under the Bangladesh Water Development Board for the purpose of
irrigation of agricultural land in the region during the dry season. Later,
it was named Burir Dam. Every year, water is trapped here during the
rainy season for cultivating the high land in that area. Every year, the
Department of Fisheries has launched various types of fish fry in the
water trapped in the water sluice. And these fry are taken care of by the

Akcha and Chilarang Union Parishad (UP). And after releasing the water
of the dam at the beginning of winter, it is opened for fishing. This is
how the fishing festival at Buri Dam is held every year.
Fazle Hasan from the district town said, "Every time I come here to fish.
Many people from different places come here to fish. It is very nice to
fish together. It has become a fair these days. However, this time, not
much fish is available. Although a lot of fish was available before, the
cry of domestic fish remains. Although domestic fish is seen this time,
we ordinary people who come to fish are getting much less fish due to
the ring nets of the traders.

Fishermen who come to fish say that the water gates are open for a few
days. Fishing is also possible for these few days. However, the crowd of
people for fishing is the highest on the first day. And since the last 2/3
years, fish has been available very little. Due to the ring nets and current
nets, it is almost impossible to find domestic fish."
Nur Islam, a local school teacher who came to fish, said, "I came to fish
in the morning." Basically, I come here every time to fish for fun and
enjoyment. I have been fishing since dawn till nine in the morning. I got
two kilograms of fish including puti and tengra. I will take this home
and eat it happily.
Golam Zakaria, Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development
Board Thakurgaon, said that the Buri Dam Irrigation Project was built
around 1951-52. There is a fish sanctuary in front of the dam. Every
year, the District Fisheries Department releases various fish fry in the
water held back during the monsoon season. And at the beginning of
winter, after releasing the water from the dam, it is opened for fishing.