Mahasen washed away fishes worth Tk 1287cr

Fishes from this enclosure in Laupara area under Taltali upazila of Patuakhali were washed away by tropical storm Mahasen on May 16. Photo: Star

Cultivated fishes worth Tk 1286.53 crore from 26,708 water bodies in Patuakhali and Barguna districts were washed away as cyclone Mahasen accompanied by tidal surges hit the region on May 16.
A total of 20,819.60 tonnes of fishes worth Tk 1281.46 crore were washed away as the surges and heavy rainfall flooded 26,217 water bodies in Barguna during the cyclone, said Nurul Islam, district fisheries officer (DFO).
The water bodies include 25,757 ponds covering 1,025.15 hectares of land, 361 ghers (enclosures) covering 44.98 hectares and 69 shrimp enclosures covering 10.19 hectares, he said.
"The cyclone caused losses to over 40,000 fish farmers in the district. We have informed the higher authorities of the matter," he added.
Patuakhali DFO Md Iqbal Hossain said 1,550 tonnes of fishes worth Tk 5.07 crore from 491 water bodies covering 1,273.12 hectares of land in the district were washed away under the impact of cyclone Mahasen.
"Several thousand fish farmers lost their capital as their water bodies have been affected. I have informed the higher authorities of the matter, seeking immediate steps from the government as early as possible," he said.
Fazlul Karim Forkan of Dakua village in Galachipa upazila said he had cultivated fish in his 0.50 acre pond.
“But heavy rain during the cyclone flooded my pond and washed away fishes worth Tk. 50,000”, he said.
Over one kilometre long 'Muktijoddha Khal', a canal in Ratanditaltali area under the upazila where fishes were cultivated on cooperative basis, met a similar fate as Tk. 5 lakh fishes were washed away.
Unemployed youths in Anandapara area under the banner of 'Bekar Jubo Samity' leased a big ditch and cultivated different species of fishes worth over Tk one lakh.
"We don't know what to do now as all the fishes have gone away," said Samir Chandra Paul, president of the Samity.
"We need financial help to restart our fish cultivation," he added.