In an effort to improve the livelihoods of marginalized fishermen and create alternative sources of income, 60 registered fishermen in Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj were provided with heifer calves under a government support programme.
The distribution ceremony was held on Saturday morning (May 16) at the upazila parishad conference room, organised by the Upazila Fisheries Office. The initiative was implemented under the 2025–26 fiscal year project titled “Conservation and Development of Indigenous Fish and Snail Species (1st Revised)”.
The programme aims to strengthen the socio-economic condition of local fishermen by encouraging alternative income-generating activities alongside their traditional profession.
Gopalganj-1 constituency MP and BNP central executive committee joint organizing secretary Md Selimuzzaman Selim attended the event as the chief guest. Speaking at the program, he said sustainable national development is not possible without improving the living standards of communities dependent on rivers, canals and wetlands.
He added that the government has been implementing a range of welfare-oriented programmes to support marginalised groups. Referring to election pledges, he mentioned initiatives such as family cards, agriculture cards, canal excavation programmes and waiver of agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 for farmers.
“Mpeople are already beginning to benefit from these programmes, and we believe public confidence in the government’s development activities will continue to grow,” he said.
The programme was chaired by Muksudpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmud Ashik Kabir Director of the Dhaka Division of the Department of Fisheries Ahsan Hasib Khan attended as special guest and said such projects would play an important role in ensuring financial stability for marginal fishermen.
The event was conducted by Senior Fisheries Officer Azizul Islam, who highlighted different aspects of the project and said similar initiatives would continue in the future to improve the living standards of local fishermen.
Among others present were Upazila BNP president Abdus Salam Khan, general secretary Tarikul Islam Raju, office secretary Md Kayem Sharif, Muksudpur municipal BNP general secretary Mashiur Rahman Mintu, Muksudpur Press Club president Md Siru Mia, leaders of BNP associate bodies and local journalists.
At the end of the programme, the chief guest handed over the heifer calves to the 60 beneficiaries. The recipients expressed gratitude for the support and hoped that cattle rearing would help them generate additional income and achieve greater financial stability.
