Seafaring fishing trawlers get GSM coverage

Fishing trawlers in Barguna coastal district are being brought under the Global System of Mobile Network (GSM) for the first time, said Barguna District Fisheries Office sources.

District Fisheries Officer Biswajit Kumar Dev said keeping in mind the protection of deep-seafaring fishermen, this networking system is being launched for the first time for storm forecasting and early warning during disasters under the patronage of the Ministry of Fisheries And Livestock. In the first phase, this facility is being provided to 850 trawlers in the district.

Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, President of the District Trawler Owners Association, said the number of trawlers in Barguna that have maritime registration and 100 per cent fitness certificate is 1,000. There are a total of 37,309 registered fishermen in the district.

Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Member of Parliament for Barguna-1 Constituency, said warnings of various natural disasters in the sea, including tidal surges, and deep depressions, do not reach the fishermen.

Hence GSM system is being introduced so that the warnings reach the trawlers and the fishermen can stay safe.