'Concerted efforts needed to protect fisheries, jute sectors'

KHULNA, Sept 27: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Arif Hasan on Saturday called for concerted efforts to address challenges facing the fisheries and jute sectors in the Khulna region and ensure their sustainable development.

Speaking at a seminar on the export potential and challenges of frozen fish and fish products, Hasan said fisheries play an important role in the rural economy, with millions of people directly or indirectly dependent on the sector.

“Concerted efforts are needed to protect and develop the fisheries sector,” he said, urging stakeholders to work with greater cooperation and coordination.

He said fisheries resources make a significant contribution to Bangladesh’s economic development and stressed the need for closer coordination among stakeholders to expand the sector.

The EPB’s Khulna office organised the seminar at the conference room of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association under the National Export Training Programme.

Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Abdullah Harun attended as the special guest, while association Acting President Md Tarikul Islam Zahir chaired the event. EPB Khulna Director Zinat Ara Ahmed delivered the welcome address, and EPB Director Abu Mokhles Alamgir Hossain presented the keynote paper.

According to the paper, more than 19 million people in Bangladesh depend on the fisheries sector. It said fisheries account for 2.53% of the country’s gross domestic product and 22.26% of agricultural GDP.
Bangladesh produces about 50.18 lakh metric tons of fish annually and exports fish and fish products to major markets including the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, China, Japan, South Korea and the Middle East.

Officials, exporters, industry representatives, fisheries stakeholders and journalists attended the seminar.