Fisheries industry set for 20pc exemption on electricity

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter Saturday said that Bangladeshi shrimp was globally recognised for its taste and quality.

However, in the international market, size or taste alone was not enough. Shrimp health standards, environmental-friendly production methods, and antibiotic-free status were strictly scrutinised, she added.

Therefore, exporters and producers must follow international standards and practices, she observed.

She made these remarks while visiting the Faltita Fish Sanctuary in Bagerhat and holding a meeting with depot owners and wholesalers, said a release.

The adviser said that while the agriculture sector received subsidised electricity, the fisheries sector was yet to enjoy the same benefit.

However, work had been underway on the issue in the past year, she said.

Through coordination among the relevant ministries, she expressed hope that it would be possible to ensure 20 per cent electricity benefit for the sector soon.

Farida Akhter also said that the entry of goods illegally -- from neighbouring countries like India or from within the country -- was completely unacceptable.

It hit government revenue and prevented traders from earning fair profits, she added.

In many cases, the goods eventually had to be discarded and thus national resources were wasted, she said.

Speaking about the fisheries sector, she said Bangladesh had not yet been able to fully benefit from it due to systemic shortcomings.

As there were legal restrictions on collecting fish fry from natural sources, the number of hatcheries in the country needed to be increased to boost fry production, she said.

She further said that due to policy failures of the previous government, the shrimp export sector had fallen behind.

Effective measures would be taken quickly to remove existing discrimination in exports, she said.

The meeting was attended by Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr Md Abdur Rouf, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr Abu Nayeem Muhammad Abdus Sabur, Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten and District Fisheries Officer Raj Kumar Biswas, among others.

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