Declare Bagerhat shrimp farm disaster zone
Bagerhat Shrimp Cultivators' Association (BSCA) has demanded that the government declare Bagerhat district a disaster zone for shrimp farms as cyclone Aila had dealt a severe blow to this sector here.
BSCA President Elias Mahmud made the demand while talking to this correspondent on Thursday.
He said the tropical cyclonic storm has washed away over 50 to 55 percent of shrimp enclosures in the district.
The 13-hour onslaught of Aila has caused extensive damage to the shrimp sector, he said and estimated the loss at over Tk 150 crore.
The BSCA president noted that shrimp cultivators would have no alternative but to go into hiding or commit suicide, as they have no more means to bear the burden of loss and financial liabilities.
It is not at all possible for shrimp cultivators to pay off loans they took from banks and other sources hoping for a boost in production in both fresh water and saltwater cultivation, he added.
According to official sources, some 18,788 shrimp enclosures of Bagerhat district have been destroyed by Aila followed by eight to 10 feet high tidal surges.
Besides, over 8000 fish farms worth over Tk 70 crore were also washed away, the sources added.
The shrimp sector from this part of the country largely contributes to national exchequer in earning huge foreign exchanges.
Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha, member of the parliamentary standing committee on fisheries and livestock ministry, admitted to this correspondent that the devastating cyclone had caused a huge loss to the shrimp sector in this region.
“I'd urge the government most fervently to help the shrimp cultivators recover the loss, the AL lawmaker said.
When contacted, District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Rashed said Bagerhat is responsible for producing 40 percent of the export-oriented shrimps.
The district has close to 60,000 shrimp enclosures, including over 35,000 enclosures for lobster cultivation. Some two lakh people are dependent on both prawn and lobster shrimp cultivation, he added.
Deputy Director of Fisheries (in-charge) of Khulna division Sirajul Karim admitted that Aila has dealt a shattering blow to shrimp producing districts of Khulna and Bagerhat districts threatening export of processed frozen foods.
Humayun Kabir, director of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters' Association and managing director of Amam Sea Foods of Khulna, also admitted that the embattled frozen food sector had suffered a crippling blow.
The damages are bigger this time due to irresistible tidal surge than that of cyclone Sidr in 2007, he added.
Humayun further said that this is the peak season of shrimp harvesting that will continue until November this year.
Apart from a recent decline in export due to some reasons, including global economic recession, Aila has put more adverse impact on future of export trade of this sector, exporters said.
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