Dhaka: The national fisheries week will be observed in the country from Tuesday with a call to ensure maximum use of the fisheries resource by increasing production and supply for a poverty-free nation.

The main theme of the week is "the country would be abundant in fishes, so that we could build a golden Bengal - "Machey Machey Bhorbo Desh, Gorbo Sonar Bangladesh".

To mark the week, various programmes have been taken throughout the country as the government expects to raise the fisheries output by 45.52 lakh tonnes within 2021.

As part of the programme, Directorate of Fisheries and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL) jointly organized a press briefing at the Matshya Bhaban in the capital city on Monday.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas, State Minister M Abdul Hai, fisheries and livestock secretary Uzzwal Bikash Dutta, director-general of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) Syed Arif Azad, director-general of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) Pius Costa, among others, participated in the press briefing.

During the press briefing, the fisheries and livestock minister told the journalists "the average annual per hectare fisheries production has been achieved nearly to 3.62 tonnes from country's 3.71 lakh hectares of water bodies."

The annual per hectare fisheries production is expected to rise by four tonnes within the next 2014-15 and the country will reach the level to fulfil its increasing demand of fishes, the minister added.

Calling the existing fish production as a silence revolution, the minister said the country is inflated with the fish production like 'Pangas', Koi, Singh, Magur and Telapia along with the increasing production of the fishes like Ruhis at different region in the country.

About the government initiatives in fish production, Latif Biswas said the country is producing nearly 5,000 tonnes of additional fishes annually.

Besides, 433 fisheries sanctuaries also have been installed in the country during the tenure of the present government, said the minister.

He said the installation of the sanctuaries has revived many of the extinct fishes like Chital, pholi, Iyre, Tengra, Bamos, Kalibaos, Meni, Sharphuti, Rani, Madu Pabda, Rita, Kazli, Chaka, Gazar and Tara Baim in the country.

Even the government initiative also has increased the production of the national fish Hilsha. The average growth of the hilsha production during the last four years stands at 4.58 per cent and the export of hilsha increased by 2.33 per cent .

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the national fisheries week-2013 as the chief guest at the Osmani Memorial auditorium here on Tuesday morning.

Different programmes including five-day-long central fish fair will be held at the Ramna Batamul here from July 3.

Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit will inaugurate the fish fair on that day. Fisheries and livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, State Minister for fisheries and Livestock M Abdul Hai and fisheries and livestock secretary Uzzwal Bikash Dutta also will attend as the special guests.

The weeklong programme will conclude on July 8 through prize giving distribution and cultural function at BIAM auditorium in the capital.

Ends/AMA/01/07/13