Ecnec okays project for conservation of native species of fish

Representation image. Photo: PID

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved a new project for the conservation of native species of fish and snails.

Through the implementation of the project, the target has been set to increase the production of inland water fish from 3.83 lakh tonnes to 4.46 lakh tonnes.

A total of four major projects, including the aforementioned new project, were approved at the Ecnec meeting.

The three other projects had previously been approved, and their revised proposals were approved on Tuesday.

Prime Minister and Ecnec Chairperson Sheikh Hasina presided over the virtual meeting from her official residence Gonobhaban.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and Planning Minister MA Mannan also participated in the meeting from Gonobhaban.

Other Ecnec members took part in the meeting from the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Banglanagar of the capital.

At the end of the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan and members of the Planning Commission briefed the media on the approved projects.

At that time, it was informed that the total cost of all these projects is Tk14,489 crore.

Under the project of conservation and development of native species of fish and snails, 392 fish farms would be set up.

A total of 110 fish farms and 391 fry farming demonstration farms would be set up in paddy fields.

From now on, the project will be implemented by the Department of Fisheries in the period of June 2024.

Additionally, the planning minister spoke about saving the flora and fauna.

"We will save every indigenous plant and animal," the planning minister quoted the prime minister as saying.

"There is a project with snails. Oysters and crabs will also have to be brought under a project. All the animal, aquatic and land resources of Bangladesh must be utilised."

The planning minister further said, "The main message is that we have to work to save, preserve and increase the native species of fish. Along with them, we also have to save the snail, which is an aquatic animal. There has been a lot of talk about snails."

He said slime is made from snails, and they are also used as duck food.

Replying to a question on foreign education tour, the planning minister said, "If anyone needs advanced training, they must go abroad."

However, there is no need for unnecessary foreign travel under various projects.

Other projects approved by Ecnec are: the Ministry of Housing and Public Works' Urban Resilience Project: Rajuk (First Revised), Rajshahi University Physical Infrastructure Development (First Revised), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, and the Gazipur Approach Road Widening and Other Necessary Infrastructure Development (Second Revised) Project.