Due to insufficient allocation, around 5,500 registered fishermen in Chandpur have been deprived of government assistance. Several thousand unregistered fishermen are also excluded from support, pushing many fishing families into severe financial distress.
A fisherman named Zahir from Haimchar said he has been fishing since childhood and is listed as a registered fisher, yet he does not regularly receive government aid. He added that during relief distribution at the union council, he occasionally receives small amounts out of sympathy, which are far from sufficient to support his family. As a result, he is sometimes forced to violate fishing bans or take loans from NGOs to survive.
Another fisherman, Rafique from Puran Bazar, said that the two-month fishing ban has left him without any income. Although he is complying with government restrictions, he is struggling to support his family. He noted that while the government is supposed to provide 40 kg of rice, in reality, fishers receive only 30–35 kg, which is inadequate.
Many experienced fishermen left off official list
In Puran Bazar area, many fishers with 15 to 40 years of experience have not been included in the official list, leaving them ineligible for incentives during the fishing ban period.
Russell Barkandaz, a fisherman with around 25 years of experience, said he has repeatedly tried and even spent money to obtain a fisher card but has been unsuccessful. He alleged that individuals from other professions are being included in the list and receiving benefits instead of genuine fishers.
Another fisherman, Khorshed Bhuiyan, said he submitted documents multiple times but was still not enlisted. He added that many like him are forced to fish during the ban due to a lack of support and are burdened by loans, with some even going into hiding to avoid repayment pressure.
Manik Dewan from Char Bhairabi in Haimchar said that in many areas, instead of the allocated 40 kg, fishers are receiving only 25–30 kg of rice.
Demand outstrips allocation
According to the Fisheries Department, registered fishers are supposed to receive a total of 160 kg of rice over four months in four installments during the March–April fishing ban aimed at protecting ‘jatka’ fish. However, against 45,000 registered fishers in the district, allocations have been made for only 39,400. Two installments were distributed throughout March.
Chandpur Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said efforts are being made to distribute available resources among fishers.
District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Fakhrul Islam acknowledged that limited allocations have made it impossible to cover all registered fishers. He said the issue has been reported to higher authorities and expressed hope that increased allocations in the future would allow more fishers to benefit.
He also mentioned that under the Hilsa Development Project, about 8,000 fishers are receiving additional support such as oil and lentils, but approximately 5,500 fishers are still left without any assistance.