ID cards for fishermen soon to check piracy
The district administration will soon issue identity cards to local fishermen in a bid to check piracy in the Sundarbans and in the Bay.
Without the ID cards provided by the administration, no fisherman will be allowed to go for fishing in the Bay and costal areas.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the district law and order committee at the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) recently in a bid to check piracy and also identify the fishermen and pirates.
Fishermen are hopeful of getting ID cards within a few days and said this will help check piracy to some extent.
Mohammad Akram Hossain, deputy commissioner of the district, told the wire service that without ID card no fisherman would be allowed to go for fishing.
“The ID cards would be provided to fishermen of the district from the DC office after getting certificate from trawler owners and relevant fishermen's organisation,” said the DC adding that work is going on to provide ID card as soon as possible.
Lieutenant Hasanuzzaman, Staff Officer (Operation) of Mongla Coastguard west zone, said during the operation in Sundarbans and in the Bay they often cannot identify the pirates.
"Pirates sometime in the guise of fishermen go to the Bay to loot trawlers and also kidnap fishermen for ransom."
It will be easier to identify pirates if ID cards are provided to the fishermen, he said.
Alamgir Hossain, Kalam Sheikh, Chhotto Biswas, Shipon Hawlader and some other fishermen in Bagerhat said because of not having ID card they face various problems while fishing in the Sundarbans and in the Bay.
Around 20 lakh people maintain their livelihood by fishing in the district, sources said.
From September 10 to 23, pirates of the Sundarbans attacked at least 50 trawlers, looted fish and fishing nets worth about Tk 50 lakh and also kidnapped around 100 fisherman demanding ransom, officials said.
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