Fresh charges on fishing won't be imposed now

Fishing in Kaptai Lake has resumed as fish traders, fishermen and workers withdrew their indefinite strike yesterday after assurance from the district administration not to impose the increased charges for now for catching different species of fish.
As per the decision of an emergency meeting, a seven-member committee headed by ADC (Revenue) Md Khalilur Rahman will re-fix the rates and sent it to the head office of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) for approval, said Harunur Rashid, president of Kaptai Hrad Motsya Babosayee Samobay Samity.
Fishing in Kaptai Lake stopped on September 1 as fish traders, fishermen and workers went on indefinite strike protesting new charges unilaterally fixed by the BFDC.
On Tuesday, they organised a protest rally on the premises of Rangamati deputy commissioner's office and sent a memorandum to the fisheries and livestock minister through the deputy commissioner.
Earlier the authority raised charges for catching different categories of fish through consultation with fishermen and traders but this time the rates were increased even without calling any meeting, the protesters said.
Authorities received about Tk 7 crore as revenue for 8900 tonnes of fish caught from Kaptai Lake in 2010-2011 fiscal year (FY) while the amount was Tk 6 crore for around 7000 tonnes of fish in 2009-2010 FY, said BFDC sources.
The 250 square-kilometre man-made lake in Rangamati district was created when the Karnaphuli River was dammed for Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Project in 1960. Afterwards, commercial fish production started there.