24,103 tonnes of VGF rice for 3 lakh fishermen allotted

The government yesterday allocated 24,103 tonnes of rice to around 3 lakh families of fishermen who are now out of work amid a ban on catching fish fry.

Under vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on April 15 granted this food assistance to deputy commissioners of 20 districts.

The DCs were asked to withdraw and distribute the rice to fishermen concerned by May 7.

The ministry has approved the allotment under the second phase of humanitarian assistance during the ban, said an official of the ministry, adding that fishers of 96 upazilas will be brought under coverage in this phase.

In the first phase, 22,477 tonnes of rice was distributed among 22.28 lakh fishermen in February and March in the same areas.

According to government decision, fish fry catching, transportation, distribution, stocking, selling and purchasing is banned from November 1 to June 30.

Apart from this, catching hilsa and any other fishes are completely banned at five sanctuaries of the country from March 1 to April 30.

The government provides food assistance to the fishermen from February to May every year.