SHUSHANTA GHOSH

Tongi Bariya Union in Barishal Sadar upazila is home to over a thousand fishermen, many of whom are facing severe financial distress due to the two-month-long fishing ban imposed from March 1 to April 30.

With no alternative sources of income, they are struggling to make ends meet, relying on loans and borrowed money for survival.

During a visit to the fishing communities, several fishermen were seen repairing their nets and boats in preparation for resuming work.

Rina Begum, 52, a resident of Ward 2 and mother of three, said she took a loan of Tk 80,000 from an NGO to sustain her family during this period. “Borrowing money was our only option, but repaying the loans now seem impossible,” she said.

Delwar Hossain, 65, said he had heard that the government would provide aid during the ban, but so far, the only assistance received was rice.

“Rice alone would not solve our problems... We need cash support for survival,” he added.

Kalam Hawlader, president of the local fishermen’s association of Tungibaria Union, said despite over 1,000 fishermen families residing in the union, only 585 had received government-issued fishermen’s cards.

According to the Barishal District Fisheries Office, the ban is being enforced across three upazilas -- Barishal Sadar, Hizla, and Mehendiganj -- as part of a larger conservation effort spanning ten upazilas in Barishal and Bhola divisions.

District Fisheries Officer Ripon Kanti Ghosh said while Barishal has a total of 79,370 registered fishermen, the current ban affects 43,279 fishermen in the three upazilas.

Plans are underway to distribute 80kg rice per household during the ban period. He said authorities were carefully verifying the list of fishermen to ensure that no one was left out of the government’s relief programme.