DHAKA,  – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has already taken decision to revivify water bodies across the country aimed at boosting fish production.

“We have already taken decision to bring back all of our water bodies such as pond, khal (canal) and beel to its earlier position to increase the production of fisheries,” she said while inaugurating the ‘National Fisheries Week-2019’ at Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh (KIB) here.

The government has already given instruction to the authorities concerned to take prompt measures to this end, she said.

Calling upon all not to keep any water body unused, the premier said the government has taken ‘My House My Farm’ project to meet the demand of fish as well as bring financial solvency.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, secretary of the ministry’s Md Raisul Alam Mondal spoke on the occasion.

While its parliamentary standing committee Chairman Dhirendra Devnath Shambhu was present on the dais.

A video presentation of the country’s success in fisheries and livestock was also screened on the occasion .

Earlier, the premier distributed the ‘National Fisheries Award- 2019’ among 17 institutions and individuals for their contributions in the fisheries sector.

The prime minister, then, handed over eight gold medals and nine silver medals to 17 individuals and institutions, including M Chhalim Uddin, MP, and Bangladesh Navy.

Navy Chief Rear Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury on behalf of Bangladesh Navy received the award.

Each of the gold medal recipient received a Tk 50,000 cheque while the silver medal recipient Tk 30,000.

The prime minister, later, inaugurated a fair on the premises of Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh.

The winners later joined a photo session with the premier.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for a greater emphasis on production, processing, and marketing of fishes.

In this context, she recalled the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to fisheries sector as he encouraged the people in fish production after releasing the fish fries in the lake of Ganabhaban.

Bangabandhu then mentioned fish as a potential export product along with jute, leather and tea, the premier remembered.

She also stressed on pisciculture to meet the national demand for protein.

“We have to increase fish production for our socio-economic growth,” she said.

The Prime Minister said she believes that fish can become Bangladesh’s main export item if the country ensures a sustainable use of its aquatic resources and wetlands.

Mentioning that fisheries sector met 60 percent of the national demand of protein, the Prime Minister reminded audience about her government’s historic maritime boundary victory over Myanmar and India.

Bangladesh has potential of fisheries resources in the sea which needs to be extracted, she said, adding “So, the government has put emphasis on blue economy”.

Sheikh Hasina said her government adopted the policy ‘Jaal Jaar Jola Taar’ (those who own fishing nets own water bodies) so that the genuine fishermen can get the wetland.

Laboratories have already been set up in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna to maintain the quality and standards of the exportable items while steps have been taken to examine the exportable fisheries items to maintain their hygiene, she said.

The prime minister also called upon the country’s business people and exporters to maintain the quality and standards of their products and thus the country’ s image.

The prime minister underscored the need for dredging of the rivers to maintain biodiversity as well as help boosting fisheries production.

Noting that fishery is a very important local and foreign currency-earning item for the country, she said fishes can give people safer nutrition.

“We can solve the malnutrition problem of the country’s people through boosting fisheries production,” she added.

The premier said livelihood of 11 percent people are now directly or indirectly related to fisheries sector while contribution of the sector to the country’s GDP is 3.61 percent and 60 percent of the animal protein comes from fish.

Later, the prime minister released fries into Gananbhaban Lake, marking the National Fisheries Week 2019.