A 58-day government-imposed ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal and estuarine areas is currently in effect to protect the breeding season of marine fish. The ban began on April 15 and will continue until June 11.
To support fishermen affected by the ban, the government has allocated 3,538 metric tons of rice as relief aid. According to the Cox’s Bazar District Fisheries Department, 63,193 sea-dependent fishermen across nine upazilas have been identified as eligible recipients. Each fisherman will receive 56 kilograms of rice under this program.
Md. Jahangir Alam, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, said that allocation orders for the rice were sent to upazila-level authorities last Wednesday.
Acting District Fisheries Officer Sujoy Pal stated, “Rice distribution at the union level will begin within a day or two. The entire process has been instructed to be completed by May 21.”
By Abdur Rashid Manik
File Photo
