Fish farmers suffer Tk 115.7m loss in Netrakona

NETRAKONA, June 29: Fish farmers in Netrakona have incurred a loss of around Tk 115.7 million (11.57 crore) due to heavy rains and floods, according to a report by the Department of Fisheries.
Fish farms on a total of 3,538 hectares of land have been inundated by flash floods in 10 upazilas of the district, says the report released recently.
All the fish from some 28,417 ponds have been washed away, directly affecting 26,417 fishermen and 15,826 farm owners, it adds.
Md. Arifur Rahman, owner of a fish farm in Kumarpara village of Barhatta upazila, said that he had lost fish worth Tk 20 million.
"I could do nothing. All the fish were washed away in front of my eyes. I have nothing now," he added.
He also said, "I started fish farming with a borrowed money of Tk 0.7 million (70 lakh). I don't how I'll be able to repay the bank loan."
Rakibul Islam, a fish farmer Netrakona's Durgapur, said, "At the beginning of the flood, I tried to save my farm by enclosing the pond. But it did not help."
Fisheries officer in Netrakona Mohammad Shajahan Kabir said, "A list of 26,417 affected fish farmers has been prepared initially."
"The amount of loss has been set at Tk 115.7 million (11.57 crore) and we have already informed the higher authorities about this,@ he added.

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