State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam. File photo

BAGERHAT, Aug 7, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam said the government has introduced food assistance for the first time for registered fishermen dependent on the Sundarbans, who have been left without income due to the seasonal ban on fishing during the breeding season.

The initiative has brought relief to the beneficiary fishermen, helping ensure food security for their families during the fishing ban, he said.

The State Minister made the remarks while distributing food assistance among fishermen in Mongla recently.

"There was no government food assistance programme specifically for Sundarbans-dependent fishermen in the past. This is the first time the government has taken such an initiative," Faridul said.

A total of 6,662 tonnes of rice have been allocated for 8,271 registered fishermen in areas adjacent to the Sundarbans in Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat and Mongla. The allocation for Rampal has been kept relatively lower as the number of registered fishermen there is comparatively small, the state minister added.

Faridul said the government was taking effective measures to conserve the biodiversity and fisheries resources of the Sundarbans while simultaneously working to protect the livelihoods of people dependent on the forest.

"Government support for the welfare of fishermen will continue in the future," he added.

Every year, fishing and harvesting of crabs and other aquatic resources are prohibited in the rivers, canals and water bodies of and around the Sundarbans during the breeding season to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable production of fisheries resources.

However, the seasonal ban leaves thousands of forest-dependent fishermen without income. Considering their hardship, the government launched the food assistance programme this year for the first time.

Beneficiary fishermen welcomed the initiative, saying they had faced severe hardship with their families as they could not fish during the ban. They said the food assistance had provided significant relief, while also calling for alternative employment opportunities in the future.

Mongla Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer (Control and Implementation) Md Jahidul Islam said registered fishermen dependent on the Sundarbans are provided with 84kg, 70kg, 56kg and 30kg of rice in four installments each year under the government programme.

He said the seasonal fishing ban would help increase fish resources in the Sundarbans, while food assistance would encourage fishermen to comply with the restrictions more sincerely.

Jahidul said joint patrols and drives are being conducted in the rivers, canals and forest-adjacent areas in coordination with the Forest Department, Fisheries Department and local administration.

"Strict surveillance is continuing to prevent illegal fishing and crab harvesting," he added.

Officials concerned said the combined implementation of the seasonal fishing ban and food assistance for forest-dependent fishermen would contribute to increasing fisheries resources, conserving the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the people dependent on the forest.