Keeping the greater interest of national development in mind, the government would promote its employees even if it means relaxing the respective department's policies, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.
She was addressing the inaugural function of National Fisheries Week 2011 in the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Hasina said she knows there are promotions pending in some of the ministries and the government already solved Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock's backlog of promotions, which has been stalling for a long time.
"The government is working to ensure your job satisfaction and your duty is to give your best effort with sincerity for the country's development," she said.
On fisheries resources, Hasina said the government will soon provide the country's fishermen with Identity (ID) Cards to ensure the proper distribution of government incentives.
"Some 1.50 crore people depend on fisheries while some 13 lakh people catch fish for their livelihoods. We will identify the real fishermen and give them ID cards," she said.
Hasina underscored the need for hatchery-based production of fries to increase fish production in the country.
She said the government would set up two polymerised chain reaction (PCR) labs in Satkhira and Cox's Bazar for the final scrutiny of shrimps before export.
Hasina said European Union stopped importing shrimps from Bangladesh as it found antibiotics in the processed shrimps.
"That was the result of the BNP-Jamaat government's indifference. However, we formed a National Working Committee and solved the crisis," she said.
She said the country's fish production must be increased so that it can export fish and processed fish products after meeting domestic demand.
"There are 78 lakh Bangladeshi citizens living in various countries. They would always prefer to have fish than any other food while foreigners are also very fond of Bangladeshi fish, particularly Hilsha," she said.
Hasina said processed fish products of Bangladesh could be a useful product to capture international markets.
She urged youths to take loans from Employment Bank and get involved in fish farming using modern methods.
She said ensuring only food security is not enough as people have to be provided a balanced diet to build a healthy nation.
The prime minister directed the fisheries ministry, fisheries department and all other law enforcing agencies to stop catching jatka (Hilsha fries) and use of illegal "current nets" for the larger interest of the nation.
Hasina requested people from all walks of life to remain alert about water pollution in rivers and wetlands.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Food Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Secretary to the fisheries ministry Ujjal Bikash Datta and fisheries department Director General Md Mahbubur Rahman Khan spoke at the function with Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas in the chair.
The prime minister also distributed gold medals to five people and bronze medals to 12 people for their outstanding contribution in increasing the country's fish production.
She later released 5,200 fries of five species at Ganobhaban Lake marking the occasion.
Source : The Daily Star
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