Parliamentary standing committee on fisheries and livestock on Sunday asked the concerned ministries to provide all out security to the fishermen of the country. Observing that the fishermen are playing an important role in the country’s financial sector, the parliamentary watchdog came up with this recommendation at its third meeting held at parliament complex with Dhirendra Nath Shambhu in the chair.
Committee members – state minister for fisheries and livestock Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, Md Shahidul Islam Bakul, Shamima Akter Khanam and Kaniz Fatema – attended the meeting. The meeting discussed how and in what way the concerned ministries can provide security to the fishermen and improve their life style.
The parliamentary watchdog in its meeting also said the fishermen are playing an important role in the country’s financial sector. The meeting asked the fisheries and livestock ministry to take initiative to introduce life insurance for the fishermen as they are doing risky job. Braving all sorts of odds like natural disasters, rough sea and armed pirate gangs, the fishermen in coastal districts go to the Bay of Bengal to catch fishes, the meeting said, adding sometimes either they fall prey to pirates or drown in the sea or rivers due to rough weather.
According to the meeting sources, a large number of fishermen were abducted from the Bay in different coastal belts by the forest robbers or pirates in the last few years. Besides, many fishermen met the tragic end of their lives in the Bay or rivers due to rough weather, the meeting discussed. It was told in the meeting that even many fishermen still remain missing as their trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal after being caught in storms.
The meeting also asked the authorities concerned to monitor the Bay and rivers strictly in order to refrain the fishermen from catching mother hilsa and juvenile during the ban. However, it also asked the fisheries and livestock ministry to provide all out cooperation with food support to the fishermen during the ban on fishing.
