Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter emphasized the critical importance of preserving mangrove forests, asserting that they should not be cleared to make way for shrimp farming. She highlighted that mangroves play an essential role in safeguarding coastal environments.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Farida Akhter made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at a policy dialogue titled “Transforming Policy Support for Reviving Bangladesh’s Shrimp Sector.” The event was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) and the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital.
Farida expressed concerns over the repeated allegations of jelly use in shrimp, which have damaged Bangladesh’s export reputation. She also pointed out that illegal and unregulated fishing activities over the past seven years have led to a steep decline in marine fish stocks, with a 78 percent reduction noted.
In her speech, Farida called for fair electricity tariffs for fisheries producers and suggested the establishment of a dedicated Fisheries and Livestock Bank to promote investment in the sector. She argued that these measures could help revitalize the struggling industry.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur, who attended the event as a special guest, commented that financial support alone would not be sufficient to revive the sector. He urged entrepreneurs to concentrate on improving productivity and efficiency to ensure sustainable growth.
The dialogue was chaired by BFFEA President Md. Shahjahan Chowdhury. Additionally, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf and PRI Research Director Dr. Bazlul Haque Khandakar delivered insightful presentations at the event.