BARISAL, July 6 : With the advent of fishing season thousands of fishermen from different places particularly from southern districts like Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Pirojpur, Khulna, Bagerhat and Jhalakathi have reached the Bay of Bengal with their fishing boats and trawlers for fishing.

Meanwhile the supply of fish to the markets of Kuakata, Malipur. Taitali and Patharghta along the coastal belt has increased. The supply of fishes has also been increased in the interna] fish markets. Besides, truck-loaded hilsafishes are also being sent to the border districts.

As the fishing season ap proaches piracy and dacoity are likely to increase in the Bay. During last year pirates and dacoits looted fishes, fishing nets, engine spare parts including cash an fishing boats.

It is learnt, small number of patrol boats cannot control dacoity and piracy in the Bay, local people opine it is simply impossible.

It may be mentioned here that government decided to

form the 'coast guard' troops for controlling piracy and dacoity particularly in this season but that decision is yet to be implemented. It is urgent to save the fishermen from the hands of local and foreign pirates.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Navy have mobilised forces with patrol boats to curb piracy and dacoity but their efforts some times seem futile as the costal area of the country is very big.

Preservation of fishes in the coastal ares is also a problem as there is no requisite number of ice factories and cold storages. Ice becomes very costly and search to meet the requirement particularly during the fishing season. Some fishermen informed that they are to throw tons of fishes into the sea water as they cannot preserve fishes due to absence of necessary ice and processing system.

The concerned authorities have been urged to take steps to set up ice-factories and cold storages along the coastal areas particularly in the southern region. The

fishermen seek Ioans for purchasing their fishing inputs and continue fishing. "

Demonstration plots

BSS adds: The Agriculture Extension Department will set . up 16 demonstration plots on an experimental basis in four thanas of Barisal district in the current season to educate people about modern methods of cotton cultivation.

An official source said these plots will be set up in Barisal sadar, Bakerganj, Babuganj and Gournadi thanas. Each of these plots would be ten decimals in size and the variety of cotton to be sown would be 'rupali'.

Meanwhile, 9,600 grams of seeds have been distributed among the growers for cultivation in demonstration plots.

Besides, fertilizers and insecticides will be supplied to the farmers free of cost to make the programme a success. the source said.

Of the total. two demonstration plots have been selected in Barisal sadar thana, four in Bakerganj, eight in Babuganj and two in Gournadi thana.