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50 fishermen killed at Kaptai Lake for refusal to pay toll

Govt loses Tk 12 crore annually for Shantibahani atrocities
RANGAMATI, May 22 : Abduction and killing of fishermen and atrocities on them by tribal terrorists deprived the government of earning an ‘estimated revenue of Tk 12 crore from fishing in the Kaptai Lake in one year till last April, reports UNB.
At least 50 fishermen have been killed in the lake and its adjoining areas by the outlawed Shantibahinl since last years mid-April when two were kidnapped and chopped to death, officials here told UNB Friday.
They fell victims to the wrath of tribal terrorists for their refusal to pay tolls.
Kaptai Lake Development and Marketing Project (KLDMP) of the Fisheries Development Corporation
started fishing in the lake on a commercial basis in 1965-66 when ft extracted 206 metric tons of fish.
The KLDMP got the highest 4.242 metric tons of fish in 1983-84. Last year it earned nearly 16 crore taka from sale proceeds excluding 30 per cent quota of the catch for fishermen.
There arc 72 species of fish. Including six foreign varieties and two kinds of shrimps in the lake, the longest In the subcontinent with area of 58.300 hectors, the highest depth being 35 metre. It is 128 km long and 28 km wide.
The area of the lake, created in 1961 following construction of the Karnafuly Hydro-Electric Project, however. varies from 48,000 hectares during the dry season
to 68.800 hectares in the winter.
On an average, the fish production per hectare during the last few years was 77 kilogram. The per hectare production ranges from 20 to 170 kg in different countries of the world.
April-May is the peak time to catch highest quantity of fish as water of the lake recedes to the lowest level of nine meter.
But , the lake has been the trouble spot with the tribal Insurgents extracting tolls from the fishermen. Those refusing to pay fall prey to their atrocities. This has restricted their free fishing In the lake, offi- ■ cials said.
About 2,000 fishermen catch fish in the lake with 13 types of fishing nets. Besides.
1,000 more people are engaged in transportation, drying. marketing, trade and management. Their dependents number 15.000.
Continued terrorism by the outlawed Shantibahinl as well as siltatlon and pollution of the lake water by shifting cultivation and waste products from launches and engine boats have posed a serious threat to the fish cultivation.
Experts say this may also hamper production of the Karnafuly Hydro Station.
Unplanned fishing and Irregularities of the concerned officials have also contributed to reduced earning by the Fisheries Development Corporation.