Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, says she will in no way approve of sending hilsa abroad without first feeding the people of the country. "It cannot be that the people of the country do not get hilsa while it is exported abroad. The country must come first," she said.

The adviser spoke to journalists on Sunday (11 August) after taking up her duties for the first time at her office in the Secretariat.

"I would not have objected if the ministry were called the hilsa ministry, because hilsa is a special fish found only in Bangladesh," Farida Akhter said. "More than exporting it, we must try to make sure the people of the country get hilsa. Raising its price for no reason is in no way justified. I do not at all approve of sending it abroad without feeding the people of the country. If we can protect that, we will try to make sure we can all eat hilsa together."

Asked whether she could control the prices of products such as milk and eggs, the adviser said: "It has to be done. Whether I can or not comes later, but my responsibility is to bring prices down. There are many syndicates here at many levels. In one place, for example, I have heard that prices go up because of extortion. On the way from where goods are produced to the market, money has to be paid at many points, which raises prices. A single ministry cannot deal with that alone; the planning ministry, the finance ministry and everyone must do it together. The prices of these special foods must not be allowed to rise. I will discuss further where the problems lie and I certainly want to go there and bring prices down."

Farida Akhter said the country's species of fish, cattle and goats are notable in the world, and she would focus on the opportunities for work in the ministry. A great deal of research is being done, which will create many opportunities for livelihoods, nutrition and meeting the protein shortfall. There should be no room for irregularities, and "we will certainly look into that", she said. "But the first task is to go to the offices at village and field level and identify the problems there."

The adviser said the first task is to ensure the supply of quality food and of protein, and food supply must be secured in such a way that no crisis ever arises. "I have only just joined. I will gather information, then decide which issues to prioritise and move the work forward," she said. Repair work will also begin on the fisheries and livestock department offices that were vandalised during the violence.

Farida Akhter said that to protect future generations, all food products must be free of adulteration. At the same time, increasing supply to the market will bring prices down, so supply must be increased.

Earlier, Farida Akhter arrived at the Secretariat in the morning, and officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock greeted her with flowers when she reached her office.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.