Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has said Bangladesh has witnessed a “silent revolution” in fish farming, with Rajshahi emerging as the leading supplier of fish nationwide.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of “International Fisheries Summit and Expo 2025” at Rajshahi University’s Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium on Saturday, she said Rajshahi alone now meets 40% of the country’s total fish demand, including supplies to Dhaka.
Farida Akhter said the expansion of aquaculture has significantly increased fish availability in markets, helping keep prices affordable for consumers.
However, she stressed the need to shift focus from solely commercial production to more eco-friendly practices.
“Commercial fish farming is profitable, but the time has come to scale up eco-friendly fish production to safeguard the environment and public health,” she said.
Eco-friendly aquaculture, she noted, incorporates climate-resilient technologies, biofloc systems, integrated farming, polyculture and the careful use of probiotics instead of antibiotics or pesticides. Such practices reduce environmental damage, support local communities, improve farmers’ financial security and result in safer fish.
“A sustainable method converts waste into microbial biomass, which then serves as feed for the fish,” the adviser added.
RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hassan Naquib, Pro-VCs Prof Mayeen Uddin and Prof Farid Uddin Khan, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Abdur Rouf and Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid also addressed the event.
Fisheries Faculty Dean Prof Mustafizur Rahman Mondal presided over the program, where Prof Akter Hossain presented the keynote paper.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has said Bangladesh has witnessed a “silent revolution” in fish farming, with Rajshahi emerging as the leading supplier of fish nationwide.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of “International Fisheries Summit and Expo 2025” at Rajshahi University’s Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium on Saturday, she said Rajshahi alone now meets 40% of the country’s total fish demand, including supplies to Dhaka.
Farida Akhter said the expansion of aquaculture has significantly increased fish availability in markets, helping keep prices affordable for consumers.
However, she stressed the need to shift focus from solely commercial production to more eco-friendly practices.
“Commercial fish farming is profitable, but the time has come to scale up eco-friendly fish production to safeguard the environment and public health,” she said.
Eco-friendly aquaculture, she noted, incorporates climate-resilient technologies, biofloc systems, integrated farming, polyculture and the careful use of probiotics instead of antibiotics or pesticides. Such practices reduce environmental damage, support local communities, improve farmers’ financial security and result in safer fish.
“A sustainable method converts waste into microbial biomass, which then serves as feed for the fish,” the adviser added.
RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hassan Naquib, Pro-VCs Prof Mayeen Uddin and Prof Farid Uddin Khan, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Abdur Rouf and Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid also addressed the event.
Fisheries Faculty Dean Prof Mustafizur Rahman Mondal presided over the program, where Prof Akter Hossain presented the keynote paper.
