On 17th May 2023, Wednesday, at 10 AM, a National Dialogue on Coastal Hilsa and Fishers was held in the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club under the joint initiative of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Sundarbans O Upokul Surokkha Andolon, and Waterkeepers Bangladesh. The dialogue was presided over by the President of BAPA Advocate Sultana Kamal and the program was conducted by the General Secretary of BAPA and Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh Sharif Jamil.
Chairman of the Department of Aquaculture of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Mir Muhammad Ali presented the opening speech about Hilsa and fishermen of the coast in the dialogue. Among government representatives, Member of the Parliament of Khulna 6, Mr. SM Shahzada, and the Deputy Head of the Hilsa Management Branch of the Department of Fisheries, Masud Ara Momi were present. Among the discussants, Fisheries Researcher, Professor Dr. Syed Ali Azhar, Former Chairman of the Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, and Professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Dr. Abdul Wahab. Fishermen and fish traders from Moheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali, Barguna, Mongla, and Paikgacha participated in this dialogue and shared their sufferings and problems.
In the concluding speech, Sultana Kamal said that the government should pay more attention to the social and cultural development of mass people rather than infrastructural development.
Environmentalists, representatives of cultural and social organizations, public and private organizations, and media workers were also present in the dialogue.
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