The president made the remark while addressing a function marking the release of fish fry at the `Singha' pond of Bangabhaban.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser CS Karim, Military Secretary to the President Maj Gen Aminul Karim, Secretary to the President's Office M Sirajul Islam, and Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Syed Ataur Rahman were present on the occasion.

Iajuddin regretted that habitats of fish and their movement and breeding places are gradually shrinking due to overpopulation and decrease of natural water bodies.

He also attributed the dwindling of fish resources to increased use of water bodies for crop cultivation, use of water for irrigation, of fertiliser and insecticide in agricultural production, and ignorance of people.

"None of us want such a situation," he said, calling for immediate initiatives and effective steps for protecting the traditional local fishes.

He called upon all the beneficiaries and other government and non-government organisations involved in the fish sector to play "more responsible role" for preservation, expansion and development of the sector having huge potential.

Iajuddin said people should be further encouraged to cultivate and preserve the local species of small fishes alongside farming commercially profitable fishes for protecting the country's water environment and bio-diversity.

He said the government has already taken various steps for the preservation of local species of fishes. All out cooperation of people and mass awareness are needed to derive full benefit out of these steps.

The president hoped that the campaign to preserve and increase the local varieties of fish would generate massive awareness among the people and help enhance their output.

He also hoped that Bangladesh would be made prosperous through the preservation and development of the local species of fishes

Iajuddin welcomed the initiative to release fish fry at the pond of Bangabhaban marking the `campaign for preservation and expansion of local species of fish-2007'.

CS Karim and Director General of Fisheries Directorate M Nazrul Islam also spoke on the occasion.