Shameem Reza Dafrul, Gobindaganj (Gaibandha)

Banned China duari and current nets worth crores of tska are being sold every day in different markets of Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha through all these nets, mother and baby fish are being caught freely in various rivers and canals.

This is how a class of unscrupulous traders and fishermen are killing native fish species. Due to heavy rains for the past one week, there has been a huge rush to buy banned currents and china duari nets in various haat markets of the upazila including Golapbagh haat. As a result, there is a fear that this upazila fishery will become empty in the future. Despite the sale of these openly banned currentzales, public anger has arisen due to the absence of any firm action by the administration.

A considerable amount of local fish is still available in the lower area canals including Karatoa, Bangali river, Nuruler bill, Tardah bill flowing through Gobindaganj upazila. During the monsoon, fishes lay eggs in these rivers, canals, canals and lakes, and a lot of frogs are born. In addition to rivers, many small fish are now available in canals and lakes.

Due to this, various types of fishing equipment such as chai, darki, tepa, net etc. have started to be sold in the bazaar at a large rate. On this occasion, like every election, this year too, there is a bustling market of banned china duari and current nets in various bazaars including Golapbagh bazaars of the upazila. From the beginning of the current monsoon season, the business of china duari net and current nets has started in these bazaars.

At Golapbagh market, on Sundays and Thursdays of the market, about half a hundred traders set up shops in open market, and some stand and sell currents and china duari nets worth lakhs of rupees. Apart from this, these fakes worth millions of rupees are sold in this market every day in wholesale and retail. These illegal nets have caused massive damage to native fish in the area.

Abdul Alim Miah of Abirampur village of Rakhalburruj Union said that with the onset of monsoon, the people of the village have bought Chinese nets and current nets and are catching fish at a large rate in canals and rivers. If you catch fish like this, native species of fish will become extinct.

But due to the lack of supervision by the administration or the relevant fisheries department, the trade of banned china duari net and current nets is going on freely in almost all the small and big haats and markets of the upazila including Gobindaganj, Mahimaganj Phansitla, Kochashahr, Futani Bazaar, Nakaihat, Katabari, Kamdia, Rajabirat, Phulpukuria. Meanwhile, several small net traders who did not wish to reveal their names said that Gobindaganj's is the largest wholesale business center for current and China duari nets. Every day small traders buy current nets worth lakhs of rupees from this market at wholesale price and sell them retail in various markets of northern region.

The fish traders of Golapbagh market of the upazila said that almost all types of fish are being completely destroyed by using prohibited current nets in all the small water bodies including the Kartoa, Bangali river and Nurul Bill, which is known as the biggest fishery of the upazila. Despite being banned, people are unknowingly causing huge damage to fisheries due to the easy and open availability of these nets. As a result, there is a fear that this upazila fishery will become empty in the future. They immediately demanded the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to stop the market of banned current and China Dwari network.

In this regard, Gobindaganj Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Mizanur Rahman said, I have raided and destroyed these illegal nets from time to time. Again, after knowing about the raid in advance, the traders got caught with nets. I will take more necessary measures in this regard in the future.