TK 1.20 crore fishes washed away in Gaibandha flood

Publish: 7:01 PM, October 5, 2020 | Update: 7:01 PM, October 5, 2020

GAIBANDHA,– A huge quantities of fishes from nearly 250 ponds worth over TK 1.20 crore have been washed away in the district due to on-going flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush of upstream hilly waters.

Official sources said a total of 3,256 ponds of all the seven upazilas in the district were brought under fish farming during the current year to meet the demand of protein and help change their socio-economic condition of the farmers.

Fish fries and other logistic support were provided from the fisheries department to the farmers to make the fish culture a grand success to attain the target.

The district experienced heavy rainfall that led the main land of the two upazilas- Palashbari and Gobindaganj to inundate for the fourth times.

The upstream hilly waters increased the inundation in the upazilas creating untold sufferings to the flood victims.

Due to the inundation, carp fishes like Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Bata Musa and Mono Sex Telapia worth TK 1.20 crore had been washed away from the 250 ponds of the upazilas.

All the affected farmers are now in trouble and anxiety and their hopes and aspirations had been nipped due to the disaster resulting in huge losses economically.

Rintu Miah, a fish farmer of Kishorgari union under Palashbari upazila, said fishes of different species worth over TK 10 lakh had been washed away from his pond during the current flood.

‘The farmers who were engaged in fish farming by taking loan from the commercial banks are in miserable condition as they will not be able to pay the loan’ , he also said.

Abdut Dayan Dulu, District Fisheries Officer (DFO), said the amount of losses in the fisheries sector due to flood might be increased and for this, most of the farmers had seriously been affected economically.

Earlier, different species of fishes worth about TK 4.39 crore had been washed away from 677 ponds of the district due to second round of flood.

DFO said due to inundation the sides of the ponds had been eroded, as a result the fishes were washed away by the huge deluge.

The affected farmers urged the government to take necessary steps for distributing incentive or financial help for continuation of their fish culture in future.