Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said on Wednesday that the country is experiencing a surplus of sacrificial animals, rather than a shortage. “The total number of cattle available for sacrifice this year is 1,25,36,333, which is 4,11,944 more than the previous year,” he said during the inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock's conference room in the secretariat. Also Read: Eid-ul-Azha 2023: 1,76,690 sacrificial animals ready in Chapainawabganj He further said that the estimated demand for sacrificial animals this year is 1,03,94,739, resulting in a surplus of 21,41,594 animals. The distribution of sacrificial animals across different divisions is as follows: Dhaka division with 895,454, Chattogram division 20,53,128, Rajshahi division 45,11,614, Khulna division with 15,11,708, Barisal division with 4,93,206, Sylhet division 4,10,225, Rangpur division 19,62,951, and Mymensingh division 6,98,047 sacrificial cattle. Rezaul Karim emphasised that the country's livestock production has increased significantly, making it self-sufficient and not reliant on imported animals. Also Read: Eid-ul-Azha 2023: Cumilla to have a surplus of 8,606 sacrificial animals, says livestock dept He said, “We will be able to meet the demand for sacrificial animals solely through domestically produced livestock. There will be no need to rely on animals from outside the country.” Furthermore, the minister ensured that no diseased or sick animals would be allowed for sale in the Qurbani market this year. Similar to the previous year, veterinary medical teams will be deployed in animal markets nationwide to enforce this measure, he said. also read: With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, Khulna cattle famers distraught over price hike of fodder “To facilitate farmers, 999 helpline will assist farmers in selling their sacrificial animals in the market as per their choice, preventing any forceful transportation of animals along the roads. Local law enforcement agencies will be responsible for implementing necessary measures in this regard,” added the minister. Regarding revenue collection, he clarified, “If a farmer sells animals from their farm, no revenue will be collected from them.” Similarly, if a farmer sells animals from their residence, they will not be required to pay any proceeds, he said. Additionally, if someone sells animals while on their way to the market, the lessee collector will not be authorised to forcibly collect payment or revenue from them.”    

BNP wants to go to power in an unconstitutional way, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Sunday. “The current government will hand over power to the elected government, and it is a constitutional process, but BNP and its associate bodies deny the process, which means they do not follow the path of the constitution. Whatever they say is contradictory to the constitution,” he said The minister said this while speaking at a programme held at Jatiya Press Club in the city. If the BNP does something unconstitutional, according to the constitution of the country, it is called treason, and according to article 7(a) of the constitution, their actions are tantamount to treason, he said. Read more: BNP MPs resigned to impede democracy: Hasan Mahmud “If they fail to follow the right path of politics they will not be found with a microscope,” said Rezaul. “If the BNP continues their anti-public activities they will face an existential crisis.” Read more: 5 BNP MPs submit resignation to JS Speaker

Dhaka, May 11 (UNB) -- Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Wednesday said new technologies are being installed in 10,000 fishing vessels to detect those in the sea.  He revealed the information while speaking at a meeting on fishing ban in the Bangladesh maritime boundary for 65 days from May 20 to July 23 at Matsya Bhaban in the capital.     “The works to install the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) at all commercial fishing trawlers under sustainable coastal and marine fisheries project implemented by the Department of Fisheries are underway,” he said.  Through the installation of VMS and GSM, authorities can identify the position of the licensed fishing trawlers and can monitor these, Rezaul said adding that if fishing vessels violate the rules and regulations, then there will have a chance to take punitive action against those.   He also said none can catch fish in the sea violating the law and the mobile courts will take action against the violators as per the rules.  Also Read: Over 90 lakh cattle sacrificed this year on Eid-ul-Azha: Livestock Ministry On the other hand, it should be considered that no helpless fishermen are harassed, he said adding local administration, navy and coast guard, and river police will take measures considering the situation.   Fishermen will be benefitted from the preservation of the fish and the government is only working for the interest of the fishermen and the common people, he added.      Mentioning that Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) will be provided only to real fishermen during the banning period of catching fish in the sea, the minister said integrated measures should be taken by the Department of Fisheries and Forest Department for preserving fish of the Sundarbans and the fisherman.   Fisheries and livestock secretary Dr. Mohammad Yamin Chowdhury, additional secretary Shyamal Chandra Karmakar, Md. Toufiqul Arif, SM Ferdous Alam, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation chairman Md. Hemayet Hussain, and director-general of the Department of Fisheries Mahbubul Haque were, among others, present.     

Hilsa, the gastronome's delight, may soon be within the reach of the common people in Bangladesh, if the government is to be believed. According to the fisheries and livestock minister SM Rezaul Karim, the Bangladesh government is trying its best to bring the prices of hilsa down in the country by taking measures to boost production. “The government is working relentlessly to not only cater to the domestic demand but also earning foreign exchange through hilsa exports," he told reporters at a briefing on the occasion of ‘Jatka Conservation Week-2022’ at the Secretariat. Read: Hilsha selling like hot cake in wholesale market Like every year, the government will observe ‘Jatka Conservation Week-2022’ from March 31 to April 6, aiming to create mass awareness on preservation to boost the overall hilsa production, he said. “The importance of hilsa is immense in meeting the nutrition 'needs' of people, creating employment opportunities, keeping the wheels of the economy active and in the financial-social development. Of the total fish production in the country, 12.22 per cent is hilsa,” he added.

The government has ensured alternative jobs and food support for fishermen during the period when hilsa catching remains banned, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Monday. He was speaking at a workshop at a hotel in the city. He defended the ban during hilsa breeding period as logical, scientific and realistic. He said besides providing support under VGF programme the government also mulls providing rickshaw, van, livestock and poultry to the fishers affected due to the ban. Rezaul said the scientific production of hilsa can be raised up to 8.5 metric tonnes a year due to a number of measures taken by the government.  Rezaul also stressed the need for developing a sanctuary for hilsa breeding as river pollution may affect the production. READ: Covid positive former fisheries minister Narayan Chandra hospitalised Talking about the Fisheries Act, the minister said the government has enacted the law so no one from the neighbouring countries can catch fish in Bangladesh waters. A proposal was also made to declare 50 km area of Baleshwar River and its estuary and 348 square Km area as breeding zone for hilsa and it will be the fifth breeding zone in the country. The area includes Bagi port of Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district to Pakkhir Char point and Sapleza of Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur to Lebue Bagan of Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali district. The breeding zone will help to create a sanctuary as well as boost hilsa production in the country, he added. READ: Fisheries Minister warns against corruption amid Covid-19 pandemic High officials of the ministry, university teachers, deputy commissioner concerned, representatives of fishermen were present at the event.

The price of eggs will soon be brought within the purchasing capacity of the general masses, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said Friday. ”The price of eggs would be reduced by public-private joint ventures," he said addressing a discussion marking World Eggs Day at a city hotel. Read:Egg Diet For Weight Loss: Does It Work? In order to build a prosperous nation, it is necessary to ensure a complete, nutritious diet. Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods, Rezaul said. “We should be careful in ensuring that eggs do not go beyond the purchasing power of the people,” he added. ”Today the average life expectancy of the people of the country has increased. Maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate have decreased a lot. This has been made possible by the combined efforts of state management and private entrepreneurs to meet the demand for nutritious food,” the minister remarked. He also noted that the current regime has patronised Bangladesh's livestock sector with utmost importance which resulted in an overall development of this sector. The Department of Livestock, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Poultry Science Association-Bangladesh Branch and Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) jointly organised the event.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Saturday said a vaccine policy will be formulated soon to control avian influenza. “A technical committee will be formed soon to formulate a vaccine policy to deal with avian influenza. The quality of vaccines being produced in Bangladesh will be improved further,” he said. The minister said the production of vaccines for all other diseases will be increased on the basis of their growing demand. “We’ve the capacity to do that. If necessary, more laboratories will be set up in the country.” He made the remarks while speaking at a seminar on the effectiveness of the avian influenza vaccine and strengthening the vaccination programmme at a city hotel. The Department of Livestock, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations jointly organised the seminar. Read: Dhaka to receive 30 lakh more Sinopharm jabs this month

The research and survey vessel, ‘RV Meen Sandhani’, has so far detected 457 species of marine fish and animals in the Bay of Bengal since 2016, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim in Parliament on Tuesday. The survey ship is cruising since 2016-2017 to assess the stock of marine resources and conduct researches and surveys. It has so far conducted 31 surveying cruises, he said replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP M Abdul Latif (Chattogram-11). “A total of 457 species of fish and animals were detected through the surveys,” said the Minister. Of these, 373 marine species are of fishes, 24 shrimps, 21 sharks and rays, 21 crabs, 5 cuttlefishes, 5 squids, 4 octopuses, 3 lobsters and 1 squilla. The survey vessel, equipped with the latest technology of fisheries and other oceanographic research, was procured from Malaysia in 2016 after Bangladesh got a vast sea area through the disposal of longstanding disputes with the two neighbouring countries — India and Myanmar. Besides, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Institute of Marine Research (IMR) conducted a 15-day acoustic survey cruise in the Bay of Bengal by the latest marine research vessel ‘RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen’ in August 2018. Per capita fish consumption is 62.58 gram a day: In reply to another question from ruling party lawmaker Shahiduzzaman Sarker (Naogaon-2), the minister said per capita fish consumption in Bangladesh is 62.58 gram a day. He said per capita fish demand is 60 gram a day, but per capita consumption is 62.58 gram, according to the report of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. In terms of consumption against the demand, Bangladesh has attained self-sufficiency in fish production, he added. The fish production was 45.03 lakh metric tonnes in 2019-2020 fiscal in the country, said Rezaul mentioning different measures taken by the current government for the development of the fisheries sector.

A record surge in fresh Covid-19 infection in the country has forced the authorities concerned to close Bangladesh National Zoo in the capital’s Mirpur and Rangpur Zoo on Friday. They will remain closed for visitors until further order, according to a decision taken by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Fisheries Minister SM Rezaul Karim sought cooperation from all concerned parties in this regard, said a handout of his ministry. "We’ve decided to keep the National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo, which are under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, closed from today (Friday, April 2) until further notice so that the coronavirus infection does not increase due to the gatherings of visitors," he said. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 6,000+ cases for 2nd straight day The government is taking all possible steps to prevent the spread of the virus, said the Minister. Bangladesh recorded more than 6,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Friday. It was the fourth time in five days that the country reported its highest daily case count. The health authorities confirmed 6,830 new infections in the afternoon. The infection rate rose to 23.28 percent from 22.94 on Thursday when the country recorded 6,469 cases, the highest since the beginning of the virus outbreak in the country in March last year. Noting that the Prime Minister's Office has already issued an 18-point directive, Minister Karim urged the people to follow the directives of the government. Also read: Fighting the Second Wave: Govt seeks stricter implementation of PMO directives On March 20, 2020 the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock closed down the National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo for the first time amid the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent transmission of the virus. Later, the National Zoo was reopened for the visitors on some conditions on November 1, 2020 considering the entertainment issue, physical and mental well-being of the Dhaka city dwellers as well as the government’s revenue loss, said the handout. The PMO on March 29 issued the 18-point directives for the next two weeks in an effort to restrict the spread of coronavirus in the country. Also read: National Zoo to reopen from Nov 1 The directives mostly are related to restriction on public gatherings, using masks, ensuring 14-day quarantine rule and maintaining other Covid-19 health protocols. All the ministries, divisions, departments and agencies concerned were asked to take necessary measures to implement the directives.

The government has no plan to export hilsa now and not even in the next five years.