Leasing system must end in haor regions: Fisheries Adviser

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter on Saturday called for an end to the leasing system in the country's haor (wetland) areas, saying no haor should be leased out, as these water bodies belong to the local communities and their rights must be protected, reports UNB.

"A discriminatory system has long been maintained centring the haors. About 29 per cent of the people in haor regions still live below the poverty line," she said at a discussion titled 'Government Jolmohal Management Policy 2009: Inequality and Mismanagement in the Haor Region' held at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Farida said different ministries currently control various haors, with most areas placed under the jurisdiction of the land ministry, which only focuses on collecting revenue through leasing out the water bodies.

Citing an example of mismanagement, she said an 'all-weather road' built in Mithamain of Kishoreganj has already caused significant damage to the surrounding environment.