Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS) - Speakers at the evaluation and closing ceremony of the National Fisheries Week on Tuesday (today) said the National Fisheries Week is not merely an event but a commitment to meet the country’s nutritional and protein needs.

They stressed the need for increasing fish production in compliance with existing laws and regulations to meet domestic demand and boost export earnings. Alongside increasing production, they called for ensuring safe fish production while maintaining quality standards.

They were addressing at the event at the conference room of the divisional office of the Department of Fisheries in the city.

The theme of this year’s Fisheries Week is “Self-reliant country with silver fish, Bangladesh first.”

Divisional Director of the Department of Fisheries Md Jahangir Alam attended the programme as the chief guest while District Fisheries Officer Md Badruzzaman presided over the programme.

Quality Assurance Manager of the Quality Control Laboratory of the Khulna Fisheries Department Md Muktadir Khan, Deputy Director Biplob Kumar Basak and Senior Assistant Director ATM Taufiq Mahmud also spoke.

The speakers said fish is a highly nutritious food and people across the world consume it, although the methods of consumption vary from region to region.

Around 12 percent of Bangladesh’s population depends directly or indirectly on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods, they added.

They said fish farming is creating employment opportunities while contributing to people’s nutrition, health and economic wellbeing.

They called for conserving natural fisheries resources and expanding safe and sustainable fish farming.

They also stressed proper management of fisheries resources and increasing production to meet nutritional needs, while boosting safe fish production and exports to make the country more economically self-reliant.

Assistant Director Ujjal Kumar Roy presented a paper on the evaluation of the two-day Fisheries Week.

Fish farmers, fishermen, fish catchers and other stakeholders attended the closing ceremony.