DHAKA, Nov 9, 2024 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said the interim government has been working to remove the discrimination in the fisheries being imbued with the spirit of the anti-discrimination movement. 

“The government has been working tirelessly to eliminate discrimination in the fisheries to make Bangladesh free from discrimination being imbued with the spirit of the July-August Anti-Discrimination Movement,” she said.

She was addressing as the chief guest a seminar titled “Challenges and Forward, Rights of Small Scale Fishing Communities: The Context of Bangladesh” at CIRDAP auditorium here.
    
The adviser said they who manage livelihood through fishing are the true fishermen, adding, “ But the traders in no way be enlisted as fishermen in that case .” 

She also advocated for giving due recognition to fisherwomen, saying there would be no discrimination between men and women in the fisheries sector. 
    
“The fishermen will not remain poor anymore if they are given required facilities,” she said. 
  
 The adviser said there are many species of fishes in the deep sea, but Bangladesh doesn’t extract those due to lack of vessels suitable for fishing in the deep sea. 
   
“We have no vessels which can extract the fishes from the deep sea.

 Bangladesh will not remain poor anymore if we can really tap the potential of the marine species including fishes,” she said.

The adviser stressed the need for protecting local species of fish in the haors and rivers.

“We have to increase local species of fishes,” she said.

Coast Foundation executive director Md Rezaul Karim moderated the seminar while its deputy executive director Sanat Kumar Bhoumik presented the keynote speech.