Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar said that the country’s marine fish stocks are decreasing due to unplanned fishing and restrictions on going to the deep sea. At the same time, a worrying situation has been created due to the decrease in coastal fishing. In this situation, it has become urgent to adopt an integrated and long-term plan focusing on the coast and the deep sea.
She made this comment as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the Department of Fisheries’ ‘Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries’ project at a five-star hotel in the capital on Tuesday (November 25, 2025) afternoon.
Farida Akhtar said that Bangladesh’s marine fisheries sector has huge potential, and the government is committed to utilizing it. “At the end of any project, its tangible results are seen, which is optimistic. However, the end of the project does not mean the end of the work,” she said.
The advisor also said that even though the project, which was supported by the World Bank, expired on November 28, the activities will continue under the government’s revenue budget. He also expressed hope that the World Bank may return to support in the future.
The program was presided over by Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf. Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Abu Taher Muhammad Jaber was present as a special guest. Project Director Zia Haider Chowdhury presented a summary of the project.
Senior officials of the ministry and the department, representatives of the relevant forums and invited guests from various levels were present at the program.
