The government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching fish in rivers and the sea to protect mother Hilsha during its peak breeding season. However, the failure to ensure timely alternative livelihood support for daily-wage fishermen has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. In Sandwip upazila of Chattogram, fishermen have not received their promised food assistance even after 15 days of the ongoing ban. Experts note that shifting the entire burden of fish conservation onto impoverished fishermen while ignoring their livelihood crisis is deeply unjust.
According to official data, designated fishermen affected by the 22-day ban running from October 8 to 29 are supposed to receive 25 kilograms of rice each. However, out of 8,332 cardholding fishermen in Sandwip, only 4,000 are slated to receive the aid. This means more than half of the registered fishermen are being deprived of assistance despite holding valid cards. Furthermore, numerous genuine fishermen who lack cards due to bureaucratic complexities have been left out entirely, raising serious concerns regarding both the delay and the inadequate coverage of the relief distribution.
For those who earn their living on a daily basis, remaining completely without income for three consecutive weeks is an immense struggle. Beyond purchasing food, these families must manage medical expenses, children's education, and other household necessities. While 25 kg of rice is hardly enough to cover all expenses, it remains a crucial lifeline during times of hardship. When this meager assistance arrives at the very end of the ban or afterward, families are forced to run up debts or starve, rendering the core purpose of the relief largely meaningless.
Local administration has offered the explanation that the rice arrived in the area but could not be distributed due to the Durga Puja holidays. Such justifications are hardly acceptable given that the schedule of the ban and national holidays were known well in advance. Questions naturally arise as to why proactive distribution preparations were not made. Emergency livelihood support must never be stalled due to administrative holidays, and ensuring prompt delivery is the primary responsibility of the authorities. Having sacks of rice sitting in warehouses is entirely different from having food reach a starving family's home.
To resolve this crisis, administrative delays and red tape must be eliminated to ensure that food assistance reaches all genuine fishermen without further delay. Moving forward, authorities must update fishermen registries and formulate foolproof distribution plans before enforcing such seasonal bans, ensuring that marginalized fishermen are not pushed toward starvation or forced to violate conservation laws out of sheer desperation.
