Rangamati fishermen yet to get VGF rice

Over a month into the ban on catching fish from the Kaptai Lake, 19,500 poor fishermen of the district are yet to get any food help under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme.

Last year also, they did not get any help from the authorities concerned while the government every year allocates VGF rice to run the families of the fishermen during the two-month ban period that starts from May 1.

Recently, a human chain was formed on Longudu Upazila Parishad premises demanding allocation of VGF rice to the fishermen as soon as possible. 

The fishermen of the area also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through the Longudu upazila nirbahi officer to realise the demand.

Sumon Chakma, a fisherman of Kandebo Chara village in Rangamati Sadar upazila, said earlier the authority gave them VGF during the fishing ban period.

But the authorities concerned are not doing this for the last two years and due to this, the fishermen of the area are suffering a lot to run their families, he said.

District Fisheries Officer Muhammad Sarwar Jahangir said the local administration has already sent the allocation of VGF rice for fishermen of the upazila level.

“I think we will distribute them soon,” he said.