Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter. -File Photo

MOULVIBAZAR, Feb 09, 2025 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today called for controlling the use of pesticides to protect haors.

"Some are talking about protecting the haor, while on the other hand, pesticides are being used to increase rice production in the haor. And the pesticides, when mixed with the water, are causing widespread damage to fish in the haor," she said.

The adviser made the remark while addressing the "Exchange of views with beneficiaries of Baikkar Beel Fisheries Sanctuary" on the banks of Baikkar Beel Fisheries Sanctuary in Hajipur area of ??Hail Haor in Srimangal. 

Calling for improving the quality of life of the people of Hail Haor and preserving biodiversity, Farida Akhter said that various varieties of native fish are being lost gradually and it is possible to save those only through making sanctuaries. 

Addressing those who want to enjoy hunting birds, the adviser said that such hunting is cruel, inhuman, and a loss to the country, including biodiversity.

Earlier, the adviser planted Hijal trees on the banks adjacent to the Baikkar Beel Fish Sanctuary in Hajipur area of ??Srimangal.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mosa. Shahina Akhter presided over the meeting.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Shahina Ferdousi, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Additional Director General Md. Zia Haider Chowdhury, Deputy Director of the Sylhet Divisional Fisheries Office Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Senior Assistant Director Md. Anwar Kabir, Moulvibazar District Fisheries Officer Dr. Md. Arif Hossain, Sylhet District Fisheries Officer Seema Rani Biswas, Senior Assistant Director Al-Minan Noor, Srimangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Islam Uddin and Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Binoy Kumar Roy, among others, were present.