Photo: BSS

CHATTOGRAM, July 4, 2026 (BSS) - Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today stressed the need for active participation and awareness among local communities to protect the biodiversity and natural environment of the Halda River.

He said legal measures alone are not enough to conserve the Halda, stressing that meaningful river protection depends on the involvement of local residents alongside government initiatives.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a sewing machine distribution programme for fishermen under the Halda River Natural Fish Breeding Ground Development and Management Project (Phase II) in the Chattarghat area of Raojan upazila.

Responding to a long-standing demand from fish fry collectors, Amin Ur Rashid announced that speedboats would soon be distributed to them. He, however, urged the beneficiaries to use the boats responsibly and refrain from the illegal collection of brood fish and fish fry.

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, who attended the programme as a special guest, reaffirmed the government's commitment to preserving the Halda River's biodiversity by improving the livelihoods of riverside communities and creating alternative employment opportunities.

The programme was chaired by Additional Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Md. Motahar Hossain. Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md. Delwar Hossain, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr. Md. Khaled Kanak, Chattogram Divisional Director Md. Anwar Hossain, local representatives, officials of the Department of Fisheries, and fishermen were also present.