Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has said that increasing shrimp production must go hand in hand with ensuring safe and high-quality output. She stressed that to remain competitive in the international market, shrimp farming must strictly follow Good Aquaculture Practices and ensure antibiotic-free production, warning that failure to do so could place Bangladesh’s traditional Bagda shrimp exports at risk.
She made the remarks on Monday afternoon during an exchange meeting with government shrimp estate leaseholders and shrimp farmers at a 48-acre demonstration shrimp farm located in the Rampur mouza of Badarkhali Union in the shrimp zone of Chakaria upazila.
The adviser said Bagda shrimp carries a distinct identity for Bangladesh, and preserving this reputation is a shared responsibility. She emphasised the importance of conserving mangroves, locally known as paraban, alongside ensuring proper management practices in shrimp farming areas. Addressing the meeting, she assured participants that issues related to the safety of shrimp farmers, land management, and infrastructural challenges would be addressed through coordination with the relevant ministries. She added that through joint efforts by the government and farmers, Bagda shrimp could be developed into a key sector capable of meeting domestic demand while earning valuable foreign currency.
The exchange meeting was attended by Additional Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md Zia Haider Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Hemayet Hossain, Joint Secretary Dr Abu Naim Muhammad Abdus Sabur, Director of the Department of Fisheries Dr Md Motaleb Hossain, Deputy Director of the Cox’s Bazar Shrimp Culture Extension Region Adhir Chandra Das, District Fisheries Officer Md Nazmul Huda, Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Shaheen Delwar, Chakaria Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md Anwarul Amin, regional coordinator of UBINIG Cox’s Bazar Zainal Abedin Khan, headmaster of Badarkhali Vercha School and College and senior journalist Mahiyuddin Kader Adul, among others.
Leaseholders of various projects under the Chakaria Shrimp Estate, shrimp farmers, fishers, and local residents also participated in the meeting.
The Chakaria Shrimp Estate, covering an area of 7,021.76 acres under the Department of Fisheries, is located in Rampur mouza of Chakaria upazila in Cox’s Bazar district. Of this land, 5,000 acres were transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest in 1978, followed by an additional 2,021.76 acres in 1982. During the 1985–86 fiscal year, 5,000 acres were divided into 468 plots of 10 acres each under a shrimp culture project funded by the International Development Association. The remaining 2,021.76 acres were developed and divided into 119 plots under the Fisheries Culture Development Project financed by the Asian Development Bank. These shrimp plots are currently operated under 20-year lease and renewal arrangements by individuals and institutions.
Earlier in the day, the Fisheries and Livestock Adviser visited Shikhi Pori School located in Ward No. 6 of South Magnama Para in Badarkhali Union of Chakaria upazila and held discussions with local residents.
