Tk 321cr loss in fisheries sector
Fisheries sector in 10 northern districts has faced a loss of Tk 321 crore due to the floods.
Of it, fish and farm structure worth Tk 300 crore in eight districts of Rangpur division, approximately Tk 20 crore in Noagaon and Tk 1 crore in Joypurhat were washed away by the flood water, said fisheries officials in the affected districts.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Fish and infrastructure of around 90,000 ponds in eight districts of Rangpur division, including Dinajpur, Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Kurigram, went under floodwater.
“Such massive damage in fisheries sector was never seen before. The damage caused by the flood in 1988 was less than this year's,” said Jalal Uddin, a resident of Biral upazila in Dinajpur.
In Dinajpur, fish worth Tk 2 crore of a fish farm at Sukh Sagar swam away due to the flooding. The 40-acre pond located in Dinajpur town was leased to Azam Khan.
Azam said it is impossible for him to overcome the massive loss he faced due to the flood.
Like him, many fish cultivators in Dinajpur suffered massive losses as the fish, fish fry and structures surrounding the ponds were washed away by the floodwater.
Ahsanul Kabir of Borobari village in Rangpur's Gangachara upazila said fishes of his 9.5-acre pond were washed away due to the flood. The market price of the fishes was Tk 10 lakh.
Adaitha Chandra Roy, deputy director (DD) of the Department of Fisheries in Rangpur, said fish of 90,000 ponds of eight districts were badly affected due to the flood.
Meanwhile, fish and structures beside 623 ponds were washed away by flood water in Joypurhat.
The loss was Tk 1.09 crore, said District Fisheries Officer Abdul Jalil.
Away in Naogaon, fish and infrastructure of Tk 20 crore were washed away by flood water, said district fisheries officials.
Shamsul Alam of Hulibari village in Manda upazila said fish of his three leased ponds worth Tk 12 lakh went under flood water.
District Fisheries Officer Abdul Hannan said figure of losses would be higher on completion of their assessment.