Save water bodies, secure fisheries

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday called for coordinated national efforts to protect rivers, canals, haors, beels and other water bodies from pollution, warning that environmental degradation could threaten Bangladesh’s fisheries resources and the livelihoods and nutrition of millions.

He said protecting the country’s natural environment was essential to maintaining fish production and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.

“If we are truly conscious and want to protect our environment, and if we want to save our fish, then we must also pay attention to protecting the environment.

We must safeguard our natural environment,” he said, referring to the growing accumulation of plastic bottles, tissue paper and other waste in water bodies.

The prime minister was speaking while inaugurating National Fisheries Fortnight-2026 at the George Institute Mini Stadium in Achmita union of Katiadi upazila on Sunday (August 16).

The fortnight is being observed nationwide from August 16 to 30 under the theme “A self-sufficient country through silver fish, Bangladesh first.”

Tarique said fisheries were vital to national nutrition and provided employment through fish farming, catching, transportation, processing and marketing.

“There is a very important issue closely linked to fisheries that is the environment. For whatever reason, we are seeing that the environment of our canals, rivers, haors, beels and other water bodies is gradually being degraded by various forms of waste generated by our daily activities, including tissue paper, plastics and discarded water bottles,” he said.

He said protecting aquatic ecosystems would help people live in healthier surroundings, allow children to grow up in a safer environment and support the sustainable development of the fisheries and livestock sectors.

The prime minister urged people to work together to conserve aquatic resources, promote environmentally friendly and sustainable fish farming and improve fish production, harvesting and productivity.

“To build such a Bangladesh, all of us must work with awareness, sincerity and dedication,” Tarique said.

Untapped water bodies
Tarique called for the restoration and productive use of unused ponds, haors, beels and other water bodies to increase fish production, create jobs and raise incomes, particularly for young people and marginalised communities.

“Bangladesh is a riverine country. There are opportunities to become self-reliant by using ponds, beels, haors, baors and other water bodies, or even small areas of land, for fish farming,” he said.

He said the government had decided to renovate unused water bodies across the country, release fish fry there and allocate them to local young people so they could engage in fish farming and create employment.

He said he had already instructed State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku to take the necessary steps.

Fisheries boost exports
Tarique said Bangladesh earned more than Tk6,000 crore in foreign currency by exporting fish and fish products to around 52 countries in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

He credited entrepreneurs, traders, fish farmers and others involved in the sector for the achievement and said Bangladesh had significant potential to become a major global producer of freshwater fish.

Citing a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report published in June, he said Bangladesh ranked fifth globally in aquatic animal production, including fish, and second globally in inland fish capture.

He said planned development of the sector could generate more employment while increasing foreign exchange earnings.

The Department of Fisheries has formed 300 clusters in the Khulna region to promote cluster-based shrimp farming, he said, adding that average production had more than doubled in around 7,500 farms.

A master plan has also been prepared to develop shrimp farming on around 7,000 acres in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar, including infrastructure development, he said.

Hilsa conservation
The prime minister also highlighted measures to conserve and develop hilsa, describing it as Bangladesh’s national fish, an important economic asset and a globally recognised Geographical Indication (GI) product.

Hilsa accounts for around 10 per cent of the country’s total fish production and more than 1 per cent of GDP, he said.

Tarique said the government was prioritising fisheries, livestock and aquatic resources because millions of people depend directly or indirectly on these sectors.

Around 2 crore people, including 14 lakh women, are directly or indirectly dependent on fisheries, he said.

“Ensuring the safety and uninterrupted development of this sector is therefore a major responsibility of the government,” he said.

Support for fishers and farmers
The prime minister said fish farmers would be brought under the Farmers’ Card programme, while registration and issuance of identity cards for fishermen were underway.

For the first time in the 2026-27 fiscal year, fishermen in the Sundarbans and haor regions have also been brought under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme during fishing bans, he said.

At the inaugural ceremony, Tarique handed the National Fisheries Medal (Gold Medal) to 14 individuals and organisations in 13 categories in recognition of their contributions to fisheries production, innovation, research, technology, conservation, exports and employment generation.

New markets, startup support
The prime minister also urged entrepreneurs and businesses to explore new overseas markets for Bangladeshi products.

He said Bangladesh exported hatching eggs to Nigeria for the first time in June and encouraged entrepreneurs to identify further export opportunities, assuring them of government support.

He also announced a Tk500 crore startup fund to promote technology-driven employment, research, innovation and the development of a knowledge-based economy.

Promising startups will receive grants ranging from Tk5 lakh to Tk5 crore, he said, stressing that the assistance would be provided as grants rather than loans.

Tarique urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunity.

National Fisheries Fortnight will feature rallies, discussions, seminars, fish fairs, fish-fry releases, technology exhibitions, awareness campaigns and programmes recognising successful fish farmers.

The programmes aim to promote safe fish production, sustainable fisheries management, modern farming technologies and awareness of the nutritional value of fish.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid chaired the inaugural programme.

State Minister Tuku, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, Kishoreganj-2 MP Md Jalal Uddin, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Delwar Hossain and Department of Fisheries Director General Md Khaled Kanak, among others, attended.

Earlier, Tarique released fish fry into the old Brahmaputra River in Pakundia, visited the Katiadi Carp Hatchery Complex and exchanged greetings with local residents.

Following the fisheries programme, the prime minister was scheduled to inaugurate a tree-planting programme at Sholakia Eidgah and attend a Family Card distribution programme at Kishoreganj Stadium.