Golam Rabbani, Gopalganj

Keeping in mind the theme 'A self-reliant country in silver fisheries, Bangladesh first', the National Fisheries Week-2026 was inaugurated in Gopalganj with the release of fish fry, a colorful rally, discussion meeting and prize distribution.

On Sunday morning, the National Fisheries Week-2026 was officially inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Gopalganj Md. Arif-uz-Zaman by releasing fish fry in the pond of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila Parishad. Later, a colorful rally was taken out on the initiative of the district administration and the Fisheries Department. The rally circled various important roads of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila and ended at the Upazila Parishad premises.

After the rally, a discussion meeting and award distribution ceremony was organized at the Gopalganj Sadar Upazila Parishad conference room. The program was presided over by District Fisheries Officer Md. Kamrul Islam. Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Arif-uz-Zaman spoke as the chief guest.

Gopalganj Police Superintendent Md. Habibullah, Gopalganj Sadar UNO Kaushik Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience Department of Gopalganj University of Science and Technology Prant Saha, Sadar Upazila BNP Convener Advocate Taufiqul Islam and Member Secretary Fazlul Kabir Dara spoke as special guests.

The program was moderated by Debla Chakraborty, Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila.

The speakers at the discussion highlighted the important contribution of the fisheries sector in the country's economic development, ensuring nutritional security, creating employment and increasing export earnings.

At that time, various officials of the Department of Fisheries, officials of government departments, representatives of various departments of Sadar Upazila, farm managers of fish seed production farms, instructors of the Fisheries Diploma Institute, assistant fisheries officers, members of print and electronic media, fish farmers, fishermen, fisheries entrepreneurs of various levels, and local dignitaries were present.

A total of 6 fish farmers from five upazilas of Gopalganj district were awarded honorary awards in recognition of their special contributions to the fisheries sector.