16,575 Fishers in Lalmohan Still Without Government Rice 17 Days Past Deadline During 22-Day Hilsa Ban

Even 17 days past the scheduled time, around 16,575 fishers in six unions of Lalmohan in Bhola have still not received their allocated fisheries VGF rice. The rice, 25 kilograms per person, was supposed to be distributed by October 7, but those responsible have not distributed it, according to the complaints.

This year, from October 8 to October 29, all fishing has been banned for 22 days in the Meghna and Tetulia river sanctuary areas for the main hilsa breeding season. Every year the government bans all fishing for these 22 days to ensure the breeding and growth of hilsa and other fish.

During the ban, catching, selling, preserving and marketing hilsa remain completely closed. Harvesting, transporting and selling fish are also punishable by law. Although the initiative is considered necessary to protect fishery resources, the period is extremely hard for fishers, because they become completely jobless for these 22 days.

It is for this jobless period that the government gives fishers 25 kilograms of rice each. But there is intense anger among fishers over this very allocation. They claim that even after being listed, genuine fishers often do not receive the rice. Although more than 24,000 fishers are listed in Lalmohan upazila, the rice allocation has come for 21,000 fishers.

Chairmen of various union councils have said the rice has not yet been distributed because of list preparation and a lack of coordination. However, they have assured that the distribution work will be completed very soon.

Upazila Fisheries Officer Ali Ahmed Akhand said the office has repeatedly urged those responsible at the union councils to distribute the rice. He said the distribution will be completed within a day or two.

There are always allegations of a lack of transparency in rice distribution. Still, fishers had hoped they would receive the allocated rice before the river ban began. But although the scheduled period is almost at its end, the rice has still not reached their hands.

Not receiving the rice on time has pushed fishers into extreme hardship. They are struggling to run their families and livelihoods. During this time they have to survive by borrowing. As a result, both anger and frustration are growing among fisher families.

Several fishers from the Meghna bank in the upazila, including Kamrul Majhi, Maksud Majhi, Abbas Majhi and Rubel Majhi, said their main source of income is closed because of the fishing ban. At this time, the government support rice is their only hope. Not receiving it at the right time is increasing their debt, and they are passing their days in great hardship.

They also said fisher families cannot meet their children's education costs. Meanwhile, instalments on loans taken from NGOs also have to be repaid by borrowing, so repaying one loan creates the burden of another.

Related sources said that because of a lack of coordination among chairmen and local leaders and in preparing and verifying the lists, fishers in many unions are still deprived of the government support rice. However, the chairmen have again said the rice will be distributed within a day or two.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Sifat Bin Sadek said the fisheries office has been told to complete the lists and finish rice distribution in all unions in the fastest possible time. The fishers are now waiting to see whether, at least in the final days of the ban, that promised rice finally reaches their hands.