Fishing festival starts in Brahmanbaria

The month-long festival of fishing with nets, a tradition of hundred years, has started in Nasirnagar upazila known as haor areas of Brahmanbaria. Like in every year, fishermen from different villages of the upazila have started fishing in marshes with nets and boats.

Fishing has been going on in full swing in Atauri, Baak and Langan beels of the upazila since Monday. 'Bhitadubi Dhibar Samabay Samity' comprising 820 fishermen organized this festival. A festive environment has been created as general people gather to enjoy the fishing.

According to the organizers of the festival, fishermen of Nasirnagar and Bhitadubi village have been celebrating the fishing festival for hundreds of years. The festival is an occasion of enjoyment for the fishermen.

Hundreds of fishermen enjoy fishing with nets, boats and other fishing equipment. Thousands of common people enjoy the fishing standing on the banks of marshes. They also arrange different programs at night on this occasion.

Raju Das, the convener of Bhitadubi Dhibar Samabay Samity, said this open fishing festival is arranged according to the high tide and low tide in Medir Haor. Members of the samity come to a designated place with nets and boats with great enthusiasm with a view to implementing the policy of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry 'Marshes belong those who have nets'.

He also said, they have taken the lease of the marshes with an salami of Tk 15 lakh from the representative concerned of the government. They can catch fish till 30th Chaitra. They can catch fishes worth around one crore taka during this period.

Hiron Das, a fisherman participating in the fishing festival, we are getting more fishes this year due to flood water. Siltation in marshes can reduce fishes. Many fishermen lamented that fishes aren't in marshes as earlier.

The local fishermen want to continue the century-old tradition of fishing festival. Fishes of 20-30 species including Boal, Koi, Shing, Shol, Gazar, Kali Baus, Golsa, Tengra, Pabda, Kakila are found in the marshes (beel).

-Ashiqur Rahman Mito, Brahmanbaria