State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku spoke at the concluding ceremony of the National Fisheries Fortnightly-2026. Photo: PID

DHAKA, August 18, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku today said the government should focus on enhancing the export of fish and fish products, saying that the fisheries sector now becomes capable to fulfill the domestic demand. 

The state minister said this as the chief guest while speaking at the concluding ceremony of the National Fisheries Fortnightly-2026 at the Department of Fisheries (DoF) conference room here.

Bangladesh earns significant amount of foreign currency by exporting fish and seafood products to over 50 countries, totaling around USD 296 million (over Tk 6,000 crore). The export basket is heavily driven by frozen shrimp, crabs, and various indigenous or marine fish species.

The DoF organized the programme with its Director General (DG) Dr M Khaled Kanak in the chair.
To hold the central programmes of the National Fisheries Fortnightly outside the capital in Kishorganj, he said as the haor region is playing vital role in the fisheries production, the majority of the sweet water fisheries come from the haor region.

So, the programme has been organized outside the capital aiming at reaching out the message of the programme to the marginal fisheries farmers and other fisheries sector stakeholders.

To develop the agriculture and fisheries sector, he said that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had taken various programmes, including river dredging and canal re-excavation, adding that later former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia also had taken various initiatives to this end.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is also working to develop the agriculture and the fisheries sector.

The state minister congratulated all DoF’s officials and employees concerned for holding the programme successfully.

Calling the government officials and employees to perform the responsibility properly, Tuku said the employees should perform their duties with giving the peoples welfare utmost priority.

Highlighting the government’s future plan for developing the fisheries sector, the state minister said instructions have already been received to take some projects for the development of the sector.

The state minister hoped that the DoF will play more important role in the peripheral economy through implementing these projects.

While speaking at the programme as the special guest, fisheries and livestock secretary M Delwar Hossen said the concerned ministry and the DoF should work carefully as part of the government in providing necessary services to the fish farmers and the common people as well.

The concerned person will be brought under accountability if any negligence found in performing duties, he told the function.

The central programme of the national fisheries fortnightly which last held outside the capital in 2003, said the DoF DG, saying that the imposing programme that was held at Katiadi in Kishorganj after long time.

Senior ministry and fisheries department officials, employees, fish farmers and representative of different professionals also were present during the function.