Dhaka: Construction works of the two modern fish landing stations, which are being built with the financial support of the World Bank in the district, are almost completed. ‘Construction of these two fisheries landing stations under the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project (SCMFP) of the Department of Fisheries is almost completed,’ District Fisheries Officer Biswajit Kumar Deb said here today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 14 crore provided by the World Bank. The stations with modern facilities will allow fishermen of the district to process, package, and market their fishes, making the fishing profession of the backward community here time-befitting. It will also help increase employment opportunities in fishing and trading as well.
The construction of these two fish landing stations is underway in Kanchia Union on the banks of the Meghna River in Bhola and Kashem Bazar on the banks of the Meghna River in Lord Hardinge Union of Lalmohan Upazila. The district fisheries officer mentioned that this island district, with an area of 3,403.48 square kilometers, is surrounded by the Meghna, Tentulia, Elisha, Kalabadar, Betua, and the estuaries of the Bay of Bengal.
In this coastal region, 168,000 registered government fishermen and more than 200,000 unregistered private fishermen are involved in fishing and fishing business. Apart from the demand of locals, many species of fish including Hilsa are being exported to other districts including the capital Dhaka and even neighboring India, added the official.
About 50 fishermen will have the scope to land and sell fishes at the modern fish landing stations at the same time. The stations will have all the modern facilities including auction shed, packing shed, inspection room, office, storage room, residential sector, ice plant building, and quality control lab.
Starting in January this year, the project’s construction work is now at its final stage, the Bhola Fisheries Department said, adding the two landing stations are expected to be operational in December this year.