Prime Minister Urges for Fisheries Growth at National Fisheries Fortnight

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged entrepreneurs to make better use of the country's water resources to boost fisheries production, create jobs for youths and expand exports. Speaking at the inauguration of National Fisheries Fortnight-2026 in Kotiadi, Kishoreganj, he said many rivers, canals, beels, ponds and haors remain underused and the government is restoring these water bodies while releasing fish fry to create local employment.

He presented National Fisheries Awards to 14 individuals and organisations across 13 categories. This year's theme is "A self-reliant nation through silver fish, Bangladesh first."

Tarique Rahman stressed environmental protection alongside fisheries development and warning that waste like plastic bottles and tissue paper was damaging water bodies.

He noted Bangladesh earned over Tk.6,000 crore from fish exports to 52 countries in FY2025-26 ranking fifth globally in aquatic production and second in inland open-water fish production as according to the FAO.

Highlighting initiatives, he cited progress in Khulna's shrimp enclosures, the upcoming "Shrimp City" project in Cox's Bazar and rising hilsa production under the Hilsa Fisheries Management Action Plan. Around 2 crore people depend on the fisheries sector, he said, adding that Farmer Cards and fishermen registration are underway with Sundarbans and haor fishermen now included in the VGF programme during fishing bans.

He also promoted the government's Tk.500 crore Startup Fund with offering grants from Tk.5 lakh to Tk.5 crore and pointed to Bangladesh's first hatching-egg export to Nigeria as a model for exploring new markets.

Fisheries Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid chaired the event also attended by several state ministers and officials.