Dhaka :
Fisheries, Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid has said standardised quality control across all stages of fish production is crucial to tapping the growing global demand for safe food and expanding Bangladesh’s export footprint.
Speaking as the chief guest at a national seminar titled “Fisheries Resources in Building a Self-Reliant Bangladesh: Present Context and Future Action Plan,” the Minister highlighted that global market dynamics have shifted from sheer food availability to strict safety and quality benchmarks.
“We must align our production strategies with international market demands and current local challenges. Identifying key bottlenecks and resolving them on a priority basis will accelerate sector growth,” the Minister said during the event organized by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) today.
The Minister underscored the need to expand natural fish sanctuaries, adopt eco-friendly farming practices, and embrace modern technology to maximize yield in limited space. He noted that heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides continues to pollute natural breeding grounds.
Addressing export diversification, Amin Ur Rashid urged producers to look beyond the traditional non-resident Bangladeshi diaspora. “While our diaspora provides a steady market for freshwater species, earning higher foreign exchange requires catering to the tastes and preferences of local consumers in destination countries,” he added, citing high-potential items such as shrimp, crab, and eel.
Speaking as the special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku, MP, raised concerns over aquatic habitat loss driven by river encroachment, siltation, and industrial pollution.
The State Minister announced plans to restore aquatic ecosystems through large-scale dredging projects. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government has launched an initiative to re-excavate nearly 20,000 kilometres of silted rivers and canals to restore natural breeding habitats,” State Minister stated.
He also voiced alarm over the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in aquaculture, warning that it inflates production costs and compromises food safety. The ministry plans to launch district-level awareness campaigns to educate fish farmers on safe practices.
Chaired by BFRI Director General Dr. Md. Latiful Islam, the seminar featured a keynote presentation by BFRI Senior Scientific Officer Dr. Md. Mashiur Rahman. Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md. Delwar Hossain, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Khaled Kanak, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md. Shahjaman Khan, alongside senior officials, scientists, and academics, were present at the event.
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Dhaka :Fisheries, Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid has said standardised quality control across all stages of fish production is crucial to tapping the growing global demand for safe food and expanding Bangladesh’s export footprint.Speaking as the chief guest at a national seminar titled “Fisheries Resources in Building a Self-Reliant Bangladesh: Present Context […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-news"],"yoast_head":"\n