Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, has said the country's fisheries sector has become capable of meeting domestic demand, and the focus must now shift to increasing exports of fish and fish products.

He was speaking as chief guest on 18 August at the closing ceremony of National Fisheries Fortnight 2026 in the conference room of the Department of Fisheries.

Explaining why the central programme of the fortnight was held in Kishoreganj, the state minister said the haor region plays an important role in fish production, and a large share of the country's freshwater fish comes from there. The event was held outside Dhaka to carry its message to grassroots fish farmers, fishers and others involved in the sector.

He said the late President Ziaur Rahman had taken up river dredging, canal renovation and other programmes to develop agriculture and fisheries, and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia later took various initiatives for the sector. The current Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, is working for agriculture and fisheries, he said.

The large event was organised at very short notice, he said, and holding it outside Dhaka was possible because of the Prime Minister's consent and direction. The Prime Minister's presence made the whole event lively and exceptional.

Praising the efforts of the Department of Fisheries and other officials, he said: "Like the five fingers of a hand, our responsibilities may differ, but when we all work together we have the strength of a clenched fist. This year's event succeeded through everyone's combined effort."

Addressing government officials, he said the duties given by the state must be carried out properly, with no negligence or shirking, and every official must serve the state with their own ability and talent.

The people are the owners of the state, he said, and like President Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman believes in this principle. The state must be run and the country developed together with the people, giving top priority to their welfare.

He urged everyone to work together in the spirit of "Bangladesh before all", saying no one can achieve anything big alone, but a skilled and dedicated team can make the impossible possible. He called on officials to work more sincerely for the public good. The Prime Minister has already directed that several projects be taken up for the sector, and through them the Department of Fisheries will be able to play a more important role in the rural economy, he said.

Speaking as special guest, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Delwar Hossain said everyone concerned must make sure fish farmers and ordinary people are not harassed when they come for government services. Everyone must do their duty properly, with no stinting in serving the public. As part of the government, the ministry and department must work more responsibly, and anyone found negligent will be held to account, he said.

Presiding over the event, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak said the central programme of the National Fisheries Fortnight was last held outside Dhaka in 2003. After a long gap, it was held in grand style this year at Katiadi in Kishoreganj. Handing awards to grassroots fish farmers and others has created new enthusiasm among people in the sector, he said.

Officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Department of Fisheries and related offices, fish farmers, fishers and representatives of various professions attended.

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