Ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake to take effect today
The district administration (DA) has imposed a ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake for three months from today.
A letter issued in this regard yesterday instructed Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) to strictly enforce the ban on fishing in the lake from May 1 to July 30.
All kinds of netting, marketing, preservation, drying and transportation of fishes have been banned.
Besides, the fishermen have been asked to move their dried fish from Rangamati to other destinations within three days.
The administration also asked all people to refrain from catching fish from sanctuaries including those in front of BFDC landing terminal, DC Bungalow, Parjatan areas and UNO office at Longudu during the period.
Every year, the authorities enforce the ban for three months from May-July for breeding and boosting fish production in the lake. During the period, mother fishes lay eggs while fish fries are also released in the lake.
A section of fishermen with the connivance of some dishonest BFDC and district fisheries officials catch fish and fish fries indiscriminately during the ban period.
To prevent this trend, as many as 10,157 fishermen, who earn their livelihood through fishing in the lake, have been brought under a three-month VGF (vulnerable group feeding) programme by the authorities.
Upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) will distribute VGF cards among the fishermen in their respective areas. Under the programme, each fisherman will get 20-kg of rice per month for three months.
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