‘Another ban before the debt is repaid’

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A few fishermen were eating lunch sitting on a boat anchored at the Fishery Ghat along Bankkhali River in Cox’s Bazar. The conversation started with the fishermen sitting round the deck of the boat. Dal, rice, vegetable curry were in the food list. Fisherman Anwar said that even after going to the sea for the last week, they returned almost empty-handed. He got some small fish but sold them. At other times, when a good fish is caught, they leave some to eat. This time it could not be kept. So it has to be eaten with vegetables and pulses.  

However, no one felt any regret about the food. Fishermen said, they do not think about themselves. Worrying about how the family will fare in the next few months. Jailer Anwar Hossain (25) said that for the last five months he has been running his family on loans. He thought he would repay by selling the fish this season. But the season is coming to an end. The ban on fishing for 58 days i.e. about two months will start from April 15.

Hundreds of fishermen boats anchored side by side at the Fishery Ghat on Bankkhali River in Cox’s Bazar. Trawlers are now supposed to be busy at sea during the fishing season. Last Thursday afternoon, after talking to the fishermen of some trawlers in Fisherighat, it was learned that the owner of returning empty-handed repeatedly does not want to send them to the sea. Many cannot bear the burden of loss.

Fishermen said that sometimes two trawlers catch a large amount of fish together. Many times, even after spending days in the sea, there are no fish. Added to this is the Iran war. After the start of the war, it was difficult to get fuel oil. Many did not get enough oil.

According to sources of Fishing Boat Owners Association, there are at least one lakh fishermen and several thousand trawler owners in Cox’s Bazar district. Only 250 of these trawlers are at sea now. Delwar Hossain, General Secretary of Fishing Boat Owners Association, told Prothom Alo that the districts of Cox’s Bazar are suffering from four crises. These are fuel shortages, fish starvation in the sea, pirates’ looting and natural disasters.