Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid has called for increased budget allocations for the fisheries sector alongside greater transparency, accountability and stronger measures to prevent financial waste.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled “Budget and Government Development Vision in the Fisheries Sector”, organised by the Department of Fisheries at Matsya Bhaban in Dhaka.
The minister said the country’s identity as “Mache-Bhate Bangali” is deeply connected with the fisheries sector, but the availability of native fish species has declined due to the shrinking of natural water bodies and environmental changes.
He said: “Therefore, alongside boosting production, priority must be given to preserving the natural habitats of fish.”
Emphasising the importance of fish sanctuaries, Amin Ur Rashid said launching projects and spending funds alone would not ensure their effectiveness. He called for regular field-level verification to assess whether sanctuaries are achieving their intended objectives.
“The primary purpose of sanctuaries is to create opportunities for fish breeding and reproduction,” he said, adding that regular reviews were needed to determine how funds were spent, what was achieved and how the initiatives affected overall fish production.
The minister also urged officials to ensure accuracy in the lists of fishermen eligible for government support.
He warned that the inclusion of fake or ineligible beneficiaries could deprive genuine fishermen of government assistance and called on local officials to take greater responsibility during the verification process.
On deep-sea fishing, the minister said Bangladesh has significant potential to commercially harvest tuna and other marine resources in international waters, as several countries are already doing so.
“Instead of merely conducting surveys and spending money, a clear plan is required to translate survey findings into actual marine harvesting,” he said.
He stressed the need to develop skilled manpower, suitable vessels and technological capacity to utilise the country’s deep-sea fishing potential.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku, speaking as the special guest, stressed the need to encourage young entrepreneurs and provide fish farmers with necessary advice and technical support.
He also instructed field-level officials to conduct regular farm inspections and monitor activities.
The state minister said the government is working to increase freshwater fish production, expand exports and bring canals, rivers and other water bodies under fish cultivation.
He identified pollution-free water bodies, maintaining river navigability, improving fish processing facilities and promoting exports as important factors for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak chaired the workshop.
Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain attended the event as the honoured guest, while Public Service Commission Member Prof A S M Golam Hafiz participated as the discussant.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Department of Fisheries were also present.