ID cards for Bagerhat fishermen soon to check piracy

KHULNA, July 7: The Bagerhat district administration is going to issue 30 thousand identity cards to local fishermen in a bid to check piracy in Sundarbans and in the Bay. Without the ID cards provided by the administration no fisherman will be allowed to go for fishing in the Bay and costal areas. The government is also thinking of alternative work of the fishermen, said the District Fisheries Officer Narayan Chandra Mondal while he was exchanging views with the local media personnel on the occasion of National Fisheries Week at Bagerhat Press Club on Sunday.

The meeting was attended among others by Assistant Director of Fisheries Department Locus Sarker, Quality Ensure Officer Aminul Islam, Assistant Secretary of Bagerhat Press Club Robiul Islam, former President ABM Mosharaf Hossain, Ahsanul Haque, Ali Akbar Tutul and Bishnu Prashad Chakrabarti.

The district fisheries officer also said that about 30 thousand fishermen and 73 thousand Gher (fish farm) owners are directly engaged in Bagerhat district.  

According to Forest Department 15 thousand metric tonnes white fish, 4 thousand shrimp and 800 metric tonnes Hilsa fish are being procured from Sundarbans and the Bay every year.