Fishermen get busy as fishing resumes in Kaptai Lake

News Desk

The Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) enforces the ban for three months every year, from May 1 to July 30, to facilitate breeding of fish in the lake. During this time the listed fishermen receive 20 kgs of rice from the government. Now the ban has been lifted.  Fishermen and traders are now passing a very busy time as the 90-day ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake of Rangamati came to an end.

Around 23 thousand registered fishermen are now taking preparation in full swing to net fish in the lake, hoping to get relief from financial crises they went through due to the ban. Meanwhile, many fishermen expressed concern over the probability of reduced catches compared to last year, as it appeared to them that the quantity of water in the lake is not enough.

Last year 12,695 tons of fish were caught from the lake, enabling the government to earn a revenue of around 16 crores, according to the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) Rangamati office.

Manager of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) Lieutenant Colonel M Touhidul Islam said: ‘This year we have released 43,074 kgs fish hatchlings in the lake. We hope fishermen will be able to get sufficient quantities of fish including carps.” When asked if the fish traders are worried about getting a reasonable price during this Covid-19 pandemic, Touhidul said the fish of the Kaptai Lake is very tasty and has a high demand. For this reason, traders will be able to get a handsome price.”