Fences to impede river flow

People of riverside villages in Barlekha upazila of the district are dependent on fishing in the Dhamai river, but some influential people have illegally set up around 100 enclosures with bamboo and net fences in different points of the river, depriving the villagers of their livelihood.

According to the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950, setting up impediments to the flow of a river is prohibited and a punishable offense.

Abdul Mannan, 45, of Mohodikuna village told this correspondent that people of around 25 villages depend on catching fish in the river as it is one of the largest fish sources, but some influential people have been setting up illegal fences in the river for the last few years, depriving them of their livelihood.

Fishermen Abdul Hamid, Sanoi Mia, Motiur Rahman and Yasin Ali of Chikamohol village said during the dry season some influential people catch fish by erecting bamboo and net fences in the river and do not allow local fishermen to catch fish upstream of the river.

The fishermen alleged that the upazila chairman has not taken any action against the illegal activities despite submission of several complaints to him.

Yasin Ali of Sonatola village said the influential people met the upazila chairman and 'managed' him after the fishermen submitted their complaint Later, the chairman called the fishermen and told them that the fence erectors will not fish there from next year.

“I have built the fencing in the fishing season. We resolved with the upazila chairman that nobody will disturb us this year,” said Abdul Monaf of Mohodikuna village, one of the people who built net and bamboo fencing in Sonatola village.

Barlekha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sohel Mahmud said legal action will be taken against anybody who erects illegal fencing.

Assistant Upazila Fisheries Officer Abu Yusuf told this correspondent he conducted an operation with the UNO, but it was not possible to remove the fences due to inteference from political quarters. 

General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Sylhet chapter Abdul Karim Kim told this correspondent that fencing any section of a river is prohibited by law. Some influential people are doing this with political support, he alleged, adding that the poor fishermen are being deprived of their livelihood.

Barlekha Upazila Parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the owners of the fences can fish this year, but the local administration will take action against them from next year.

Dean of Faculty of Fisheries at Sylhet Agricultural University Prof Dr Md Shahab Uddin told this correspondent that fish fry are being destroyed due to the unabated netting.

If this is not stopped right now, the reserve of indigenous varieties of fish will decrease to a drastic level, he added.