S A Shofiee, Sylhet 

The current flooding in Sylhet has caused losses of more than Tk 19 crore 73 lakh fish in district Fishermen and farmers of the district have faced a lot of losses. 1 thousand 583.48 hectares of fish enclosures have been swept away by the torrential rains and hill slopes in Jaintapur, Goainghat, Companyganj, Kanaighat, Jokiganj upazilas of the district. According to the sources of the district fisheries office, the total loss of about 19 crore 73 lakh 40 thousand taka has been caused due to the flood.

Hundreds of ponds were washed away by flood water in various upazilas including Jaintapur, Jokiganj, Goainghat. The face of any pond was not seen. And most of the ponds were covered under huge water. As a last resort, the farmers tried to keep the fish with nets and nets, but they did not give in to the water.

Sylhet District Fisheries Officer Shima Rani Biswas said in the notification that 7 thousand 382 fish farmers and 8 thousand 258 ponds of fish farms, 8 hundred 49.25 metric tons of fish and 56.85 million fish fry were washed away by flood water. The loss is about 19 crore 73 lakh 40 thousand taka. Out of this, the value of fish is 16 crore 25 lakh 60 thousand, the value of fish is 2 crore 63 lakh 30 thousand and the infrastructure damage is 84 lakh 50 thousand taka. The area of affected ponds, ponds and farms is 1 thousand 583.48 hectares.

In Jakiganj upazila of the district, 900 fish farmers and 750 ponds, ponds and fish farms have 260 metric tons of fish and 14 lakh fish fry. It caused a loss of about 6 crore 20 lakh taka. Out of this, the value of fish is 5 crore 72 lakhs, the value of fish is 42 lakhs and the infrastructure damage is 6 lakhs. The area of affected ponds, ponds and farms is 510 hectares.

29 fish farmers and farmers of Companyganj upazila have 29 ponds, ponds and fish farms with 105.25 metric tons of fish and 7 lakh 25 thousand fish fry. The loss is about 1 crore 73 lakh 10 thousand taka. Out of this, the value of fish is 1 crore 29 lakh 60 thousand, the value of fish is 35 lakh and the infrastructure damage is 6 lakh 50 thousand. The area of affected ponds, ponds and farms is 20.45 hectares.

Goainghat Upazila has 1,700 fish farmers and 2,100 ponds, ponds and fish farms with 350 metric tons of fish and 2.2 million fish fry. It caused a loss of about 7 crore 83 lakh taka. Out of this, the value of fish is 6 crore 98 lakhs, the value of fish is 60 lakhs and the infrastructure damage is 25 lakhs. The area of affected ponds, ponds and farms is 310 hectares.

1 thousand 953 fish farmers and farmers of Jaintapur upazila have 2 thousand 75 ponds, ponds and fish farms with 24 metric tons of fish and 21.6 million fish fry. The loss is about 2 crore 15 lakh 30 thousand taka. Out of this, the value of fish is 72 lakhs, the value of fish is 1 crore 8 lakh 30 thousand and the infrastructure damage is 35 lakh rupees. The area of affected ponds, ponds and farms is 336.03 hectares.

2 thousand 800 fish farmers and farmers of Kanighat upazila have 3 thousand 300 ponds, ponds and fish farms with 110 metric tons of fish and 6 lakh fish fry. The loss is about 1 crore 82 lakh taka. Out of this, the value of fish is 1 crore 54 lakhs, the value of fish is 18 lakhs and the damage to infrastructure is 10 lakhs. The area of affected ponds, ponds and farms is 407 hectares.

A fish farmer from Jaintapur area said, 'I have taken a loan for fish farming in the pond. At the beginning of the flood, efforts were made to save the fish by fencing around the pond to no avail. All the fish were swept away by the flood. Another fish farmer of the same upazila said that he could not save the farm of his dreams even after a long night. The fish floated in front of the eyes.

Speaking to the affected fish farmers, it is said that among the fish washed away were tilapia, pangas, katal, rooi and other varieties of fish. They have faced losses due to sudden floods. Along with the fish, all the fry have gone from the fry hatchery. In this situation they have faced extreme loss. Many of the fish farmers were engaged in fish farming with high interest loans. Now that the fish is washed away, on the one hand, the thought of running the family, on the other hand, the thought of paying off the debt. All in all, they are in extreme trouble. Fishermen said that if the fishery loan waiver and government facilities are increased to compensate for the losses, they will be interested in fishing anew in the coming days.

Shima Rani Biswas, Senior Assistant Director of Sylhet District Fisheries Office, said that the number of native fish among the washed away fish was high. The amount of damage may increase further. Based on the initial information received, the farmers' damage report has been prepared. Higher authorities have been informed. Farmers will be assisted if allocation is available.