The government has approved the Master Plan of the Haor Development Board and decided to protect the country's fish species by creating a fish sanctuary on 20 percent of jalmahals (waterbodies) inhaorareas.

The decision was taken at the third meeting of Bangladesh Haor and Water Body Development Board on Thursday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the meeting decided to set up district offices of Bangladesh Haor and Water Body Development Board in Netrakona and Habiganj districts.

In order to ensure proper coordination of the activities of various non-government organisations, the meeting discussed ways to

authorise the board over monitoring the activities of NGOs in the haor areas.

Various development plans of the board and the progress of implementation of the decisions of its second meeting were also discussed at the meeting, he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina underscored the need for regular dredging of rivers to increase navigability to protect the valuable crops of farmers in the haor areas.

She also directed the authorities concerned to strictly follow the master plan before implementing any development activities in the haor areas.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen and Environment and Forest Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud attended the meeting.