MADARIPUR, Oct 6: Fishing with banned Chinese magic nets (ring nets) is going on in a free manner in various canals in Kalkini and Dasar upazilas and the Arial Khan and Palradi rivers in Kalkini Upazila of the district.
Due to the fishing by the banned nets, local fish species are disappearing.
Upazila Fisheries Office is not taking any action against the illegal net users mysteriously.
There has been an extreme anger among sentient section.
On Friday morning, locals Paritosh Mandal, Liton Mandal, Dinesh Mandal, Shailen Mallik, Prashant Mandal, Bashuram Mandal, Shailen Mandal, Milton Mandal and Manik Mollah made a protest in a rally in Nayakind area in the municipality area against illegal net users.
A visit found unscrupulous fishers carrying out reckless fishing with these nets.
All types of fresh water fishes in the rivers are netted.
Due to increased water in these rivers, canals and reservoirs for continuous rain during the last few days this breeding season, all natural fishes including shrimp, pool barb, Tengra (small cat fish), Koi (climbing fish), Shing (stinging cat fish), Magur (cat fish), tilapia, Boal (fresh water shark), Shoal (stripped snakehead), and Taaki (spotted snakehead) are netted.
Proper breeding of these fishes is hampered.
Overfishing by Chinese nets has caused an acute shortage to local fishes. Because of this, hundreds of fishermen families are facing financial crisis.
Paritosh Mandal and several locals said, "We have made written complaint to Upazila Fisheries Officer for taking action against illegal net users. But he is not taking any action against them for mysterious reasons."
When contacted, Kalkini Upazila Nirbahi Officer Uttam Kumar Dash said, "I have received a written complaint from locals for taking action against illegal net users. A quick action will be taken against illegal net users."
