Manpower crisis cripples Shayestaganj fishery

Infrastructure as well as activities at the government-run Shayestaganj Fisheries Extension and Training Centre in Sayestaganj upazila of Habiganj has remained in a deplorable condition for years.

The centre is running with many problems including dilapidated office buildings, broken furniture, decaying boundary walls and silted up ponds.

Manned with only one person, the necessary equipment of the fish hatchery is being wasted due to lack of maintenance.

The Fisheries Extension and Training Centre was established in 1961 in Shayestaganj on an area of about 12 and a half acres of land.

In the past, it was successful in producing fry of different species of fish, but now the training center is crippling due to lack of care.

For almost four years, the center has had only one employee instead of five. However, there are two staffers in the master roll.

Shamiul Islam of Kadamtali village adjacent to the fish farm said, "Even though the fish center was established for the betterment of our area, it is not working now. It has become crippled due to lack of manpower."

Miraj Rahman of Shampur village of the upazila said since there is only one person employed at the farm, locals often enter the farm and take away various equipment and fish.

Besides, the equipment inside the fish farm is also being destroyed and the boundary wall of the centre is also breaking down.

Abdur Rauf of Dakshin Barachar village in Shayestaganj municipal area said, although some people get jobs in the master roll at the center, they do not want to continue the work as they are not paid properly and regularly.

Shayestaganj Fisheries Extension and Training Centre's farm officer Nasir Uddin said, the farm has a target of producing 205 kg of fish fry per annum and the government has received revenue of Tk 859,000 this year from it.

He also pointed to the fact that there is not enough manpower in the fish farm.

"In the past, there were two employees but now I am handling the fish farm alone. I have been able to meet the target of fish production by hiring people in the master roll," he said.

He also said that a guard needs to be appointed on an emergency basis.

Habiganj District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Shahzada Khasru told this correspondent, the farm is supposed to be manned with five people, but there is only one.

"Lack of manpower is disrupting the normal functioning of the farm. The concerned department is being contacted about the matter.

They have assured us that manpower will be recruited soon," Khasru said.