Naf River open to fishermen again after nearly 8 years
Fishermen, however, will have to comply with five conditions to fish there, according to a memorandum – seen by The Business Standard – sent to Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer from the Cox’s Bazar district administration.
The government has lifted the longstanding ban on fishing in the Naf River after seven years and nine months.
Fishermen, however, will have to comply with five conditions to fish there, according to a memorandum – seen by The Business Standard – sent to Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer from the Cox's Bazar district administration.
"In light of the ruling of the writ petition of the High Court, the Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner is directed to take necessary steps to resume legal fishing activities by fishermen in the Naf River," the memorandum, signed by Md Kamrul Islam, assistant commissioner of the Civil Suit Branch of the Cox's Bazar District Administration Office, reads.
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Teknaf UNO Sheikh Ehsan Uddin confirmed to TBS that he has received the letter.
"We are taking necessary steps in this regard."
Abdul Gani, president of the Jaliapara Fishermen's Cooperative Association in Shahparir Dwip in Teknaf, said fishermen are celebrating the lifting of the ban.
The ban on fishing in the Naf River was imposed in April of 2017.
Now, permission to fish in the Naf River has been granted subject to the following conditions:
Under the first condition, fishing is allowed from 8am to 4pm in the Naf River from Shahparir Island to Teknaf Jetty Ghat within the Bangladesh border
The second condition mandates that fishermen will have to show their tokens/identity cards at the five designated posts of the BGB while going for fishing. They will also provide all possible assistance to the BGB members after returning from fishing. No fisherman will be allowed to fish without informing the check post.
Fishermen will also not be allowed to cross the border of Bangladesh.
The fourth condition states that the updated list of registered fishermen of the Fisheries Department can be provided to the BGB, Coast Guard and law enforcement agencies to ensure that only registered fishermen are allowed to fish in the Naf River.
The fifth condition states that this permission is completely temporary.
A decision will be taken on the renewal of this permission after reviewing the border situation after three months.
