Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has said that India’s fishermen used to benefit from Bangladesh’s 65-day fishing ban, as they would catch fish in the Bay of Bengal during the period when Bangladeshi fishermen were restricted from fishing.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the BFDC Modern Fish Landing Center and Wholesale Fish Market in Cox’s Bazar—funded by JICA—on Thursday morning, she stated, “Bangladeshi fishermen had long been complaining that when fishing was banned on our side, Indian boats continued operating. Based on this, researchers from the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute and a technical team have now revised the ban period.”
The new fishing ban will be in effect for 58 days, from April 15 to June 11, during which fishing activities will be halted to protect marine biodiversity. The adviser noted that the revised timeline would also prevent foreign fishing boats from exploiting the ban.
She added, “The fish landing center and wholesale market in Cox’s Bazar will be made modern and visually appealing to match the city’s tourism potential. It will also attract tourists who are curious about the local fish trade.”
BFDC Chairperson Suraiya Akhtar Jahan delivered the welcome speech. Notable attendees included Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Abdur Rouf, JICA Bangladesh Chief Ichiguchi Tamohide, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Nizam Uddin Ahmed, along with local fishers, businessmen, government officials, and representatives from the fishing boat owners’ association.
The modern fish landing center and wholesale market is being constructed on 3.70 acres of land along the western bank of the Bakkhali River to ensure hygienic fish handling, reduce post-harvest loss, and streamline fish marketing operations.
The Tk 232 crore project is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2027.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
