Staff Reporter :
Fisheries and Livestock Affairs Adviser Farida Akhter have announced, who are involved in harvesting, production, and sale of hilsa, must ensure its actual price.
She made these remarks while presiding over a meeting on Monday titled “Determining the Next Steps to Eliminate Existing Obstacles in the Supply and Price Chain of Hilsa and All Types of Fish” held this afternoon at the conference room of the Department of Fisheries.
The Adviser said that fish prices, including hilsa, cannot be controlled merely by price declarations. Rather, effective intervention is possible if the actual reasons behind price hikes are identified.
She also mentioned that the government regularly conducts operations to regulate hilsa harvesting and conservation and has taken strict measures to protect hilsa and juvenile hilsa (jatka), which are key components of overall hilsa management.
She said it is extremely important to keep hilsa prices within the purchasing capacity of the general public.
The Fisheries Adviser noted that illegal fishing practices are being tackled through enforcement drives, during which banned nets are being seized and destroyed. In many cases, punitive actions are also being taken against fishers who violate regulations. Government forces are also regularly conducting operations in factories that produce illegal fishing nets.
Addressing the issue of navigability in rivers, she said that the loss of navigability is altering the natural habitat and migration routes of hilsa, which is a cause for concern. She stressed that navigability must be considered a major issue in ensuring hilsa breeding and movement.
The meeting were also attended by Md. Akhtaruzzaman Talukder, Member (Secretary) of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Secretary (current charge) of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Additional Secretaries Syeda Nowara Jahan and Nilufa Akhter, Joint Secretary Shahina Ferdousi, Additional DIG of River Police Md. Abdul Warish, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Director General of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Dr. Anuradha Bhadra, Commander of the Bangladesh Navy M. Ali Akbar Siraji, Captain Saiful, Director of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
