Scarcity of hilsha hits Manikganj fishermen
Friday, 28 August 2009
Our Correspondent
MANIKGANJ, Aug 27 : The fishermen on the banks of the Padma in the district have been facing acute scarcity of Hilsha fish as if it is almost on the verge of extinction.
Even at the end of the Bengali month of Shravan, which is usually termed a full season for catching Hilsha, the fish are not being caught as expected by the fishermen.
As a result, there is no touch of festivity in the fishermen villages of district.
Before the advent of rainy season, the fishermen on the banks of Padma at Shibalaya, Harirampur and Doulatpur villages of Manikganj district got prepared for Hilsha catching.
Not only the fishermen but also the farmers, day labourers and enthusiasts got ready for the same job for making additional money during the Hilsha season.
The festive atmosphere began amid painting the fishing boats with different colours and tar. They also repaired old nets. All the arrangements were made only to catch Hilsha.
But gone are the good old days. Now-a-days Hilsha has become a dream for the local fishermen.
The fishermen in Andharmanik, Dhulsura, Boyra, Bala, Tauta, Jafarganj, Annaypur, Nayabari and Nali villages of the district did never have such an awful experience in the past.
The fishermen usually live in affluence during the Bengali months from Ashar to Ashwin as a large number of Hihsha fish are caught from the rivers. And as a result, their incomes also have a large figure. They overcome the financial constraint during the rest of the year with the additional income of the Hilsha season.
This year there is no shortage of fishing boats in the river as usual. But Hilsha is not being caught in large numbers. Labouring all the day, there is no guarantee of catching even a dozen of Hilsha fish.
In every Hilsha season, the fishermen go to fishing in the river borrowing about Tk 1,50,000 from the money lenders of the warehouses on condition that they will sell the whole amount of fish they catch as per the market price to the owners of the warehouses. But the owners of the warehouses have become utterly frustrated this year.
The Hilsha of the rainy season is the lone source of income for these fishermen. This year the hope of income from selling Hilsha is bleak.
Besides, the money given to the fishermen might remain unrepaid until next season.
The fishermen make repayment of the money by catching fish. If fish is not caught how they will pay back the money.'' lamented Tarafder Mia, a warehouse owner.
MANIKGANJ, Aug 27 : The fishermen on the banks of the Padma in the district have been facing acute scarcity of Hilsha fish as if it is almost on the verge of extinction.
Even at the end of the Bengali month of Shravan, which is usually termed a full season for catching Hilsha, the fish are not being caught as expected by the fishermen.
As a result, there is no touch of festivity in the fishermen villages of district.
Before the advent of rainy season, the fishermen on the banks of Padma at Shibalaya, Harirampur and Doulatpur villages of Manikganj district got prepared for Hilsha catching.
Not only the fishermen but also the farmers, day labourers and enthusiasts got ready for the same job for making additional money during the Hilsha season.
The festive atmosphere began amid painting the fishing boats with different colours and tar. They also repaired old nets. All the arrangements were made only to catch Hilsha.
But gone are the good old days. Now-a-days Hilsha has become a dream for the local fishermen.
The fishermen in Andharmanik, Dhulsura, Boyra, Bala, Tauta, Jafarganj, Annaypur, Nayabari and Nali villages of the district did never have such an awful experience in the past.
The fishermen usually live in affluence during the Bengali months from Ashar to Ashwin as a large number of Hihsha fish are caught from the rivers. And as a result, their incomes also have a large figure. They overcome the financial constraint during the rest of the year with the additional income of the Hilsha season.
This year there is no shortage of fishing boats in the river as usual. But Hilsha is not being caught in large numbers. Labouring all the day, there is no guarantee of catching even a dozen of Hilsha fish.
In every Hilsha season, the fishermen go to fishing in the river borrowing about Tk 1,50,000 from the money lenders of the warehouses on condition that they will sell the whole amount of fish they catch as per the market price to the owners of the warehouses. But the owners of the warehouses have become utterly frustrated this year.
The Hilsha of the rainy season is the lone source of income for these fishermen. This year the hope of income from selling Hilsha is bleak.
Besides, the money given to the fishermen might remain unrepaid until next season.
The fishermen make repayment of the money by catching fish. If fish is not caught how they will pay back the money.'' lamented Tarafder Mia, a warehouse owner.