Govt to protect local interests in wetland leasing: Minister

KISHOREGANJ, Aug 8: Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid has said that the government is planning to replace the conventional leasing system for water-bodies, or jolmohals, with a new framework designed to safeguard the interests of local communities and strengthen fisheries management.

The government is also taking steps to establish new fish sanctuaries in haor and wetland areas to increase the breeding and production of native freshwater fish, he said while speaking to reporters on Saturday after inspecting the venue for the inauguration of National Fisheries Fortnight 2026 at Achmita George Institute Mini Stadium in Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj.

Addressing the decline in indigenous fish species, Amin Ur Rashid identified environmental degradation, excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, destruction of fish habitats and the shrinking of natural sanctuaries as major factors behind the problem.

“To address these challenges, the government plans to establish deep reservoirs and large enclosures in haors and wetlands to provide safe breeding grounds and preserve fish populations,” he said.

The minister stressed that protecting fish eggs and fry would help restore the country’s aquatic biodiversity and naturally increase fish production.

Regarding growing concerns over microplastic contamination in fish, he said the issue is a global challenge affecting both marine and freshwater ecosystems. Bangladesh, he added, would formulate its response in line with international research and work in coordination with the Ministry of Environment to reduce the associated risks.

On the government’s crackdown on the use of destructive “China Duari” fishing nets, the minister said the fine-mesh traps pose a serious threat to aquatic biodiversity by indiscriminately catching fish fry as well as mature fish.

Earlier, the minister inspected several prospective sites for releasing fish fry along the Old Brahmaputra River. The sites included Thana Ghat Isakha Bridge, Bahadia Pathanbari Ghat and Chairman Bari Ghat near Mirzapur Government Primary School in Pakundia upazila.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam MP, Kishoreganj-2 MP Advocate Jalal Uddin, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak and Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner Sohana Nasrin, among other senior officials, were present during the inspection.