5 August, 2013: Fisher folks in Bhola and Cox’s Bazar districts demand to save their earnings from the big trawlers are given license without any survey on the existing resources in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh Fish Workers’ Alliance (BFWA), an alliance of the fishing labors of Bangladesh calls for the event simultaneously in both place.
In Bhola, they stand up in a human chain in front of the Bhola Press Club at 11.00 am on 5th August 2013. Mr. Mobasshir Ullah Chowdhury, the president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bhola District Committee, Mr. Nurul Islam, the president of the Cooperative Society of Fishers of Bangladesh, Bhola District Committee and the secretary of the same Mr. Abul Kashem Majhi, Mr. Nur Islam, the president of Small Fishers’ Cooperative Society and the Secretary of the same Mr. Ershad Ali are present in the stand up and speak about the issue. Mr. Mizanur Rahman, the coordinator of COAST Trust is also present in the event.
In Cox’s Bazar, the stand up event takes place in front of the District Commissioner’s Office including the Union of the Fishing Boat Labors of Cox’s Bazar, Association of the Fishing Boat Owners of Cox’s Bazar, People’s Organization and COAST Trust. Mr. Mohammad Nurul Islam, a famous journalist and writer in Cox’s Bazar, Mr. Mizanur Rahman Bahadur, the Advisor of the Union of the Fishing Boat Labors of Cox’s Bazar, Mr. Monir Mobarek, the Joint Convener of Chhatra Maitree and Mr. Moqbul Ahmed, the Regional Team Leader of COAST Trust speak in the gathering and point out the demands and rights of the fisher folk of Bangladesh.
The leaders in the stand up event in the both place say that, the government of Bangladesh is giving license to the big fishing trawlers for fishing in the Bay of Bengal without any survey on the existing fish resource and it is going to be harmful to the small fishers as there is no monitoring system to make the trawlers fishing out of the 40 meters deep area. The government must ensure the interest of the small and poor fishing folks.
