In the recent catastrophic flood, north-eastern, eastern, and south-eastern districts of the country including Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali and Chattogram witnesses severe damages, especially in fisheries sector.
According to a report by the Department of Fisheries, the fisheries sector in Chattogram division singly has suffered a loss of Tk 1,965 crore, including Tk 1,845 crore worth of fish and Tk 120 crore in infrastructure damage.
The report says, a total of 1,95,239 pounds and farms across 656 unions in the division, covering an area of 39,583 hectares, have been damaged. Besides, 103 enclosures over 581 hectares have also been damaged.
Nearly 1,07,293 tonnes of fish, 713 tonnes of shrimp and 877 tonnes of fry, including fish from other projects, have been washed away as ponds, reservoirs and enclosures damaged during the recent flood.
In terms of financial loss, the estimated value of the damaged fish is Tk 1,600 crore, shrimp Tk 15.14 crore, and fry and other fish Tk 230 crore. The remaining amount accounts for damage to infrastructure, fishing nets, and other sectors.
The district-wise statistics analysis shows, Noakhali districts has suffered the most damage from the flood, with losses amounting to Tk 615.55 crore, where 38,112 tonnes of fish, 636 tonnes of shrimps, 1,131 tonnes of fry, and 870 tonnes of fish from various projects have been affected.
The estimated damage to infrastructure, fishing nets, and fish in Cumilla district is Tk 525.97 crore.
In Lakshmipur district, the total estimated loss is Tk 240.6 crore.
Additionally, the estimated damage to infrastructure, nets, and all other assets in Chattogram district is Tk 290.47 crore.
In Chandpur, the estimated loss is Tk 178.52 crore.
Meanwhile, the fisheries sector in Feni district has suffered a loss of Tk 74.81 crore due to the flood.
Additionally, Brahmanbaria district has incurred a loss of Tk 18.51 crore, Cox's Bazar Tk 12.97 crore, Rangamati Tk 1.79 crore, and Khagrachhari Tk 6.54 crore.
Regarding the damages caused by the flood, Fisheries Department Deputy Director Mohammad Belal Hossain told The Business Post, “We have prepared an initial estimate. According to that, the damages are nearly Tk 2,000 crore.
“However, to know the exact amount of loss incurred by each individual, we are collecting data from the field. We will send this collected data to the ministry. Measures will be taken to rehabilitate the affected fish farmers.”
There are numerous fish farms in the Mirsarai of Chattogram, of which the most of these farms have been submerged during this year's flood.
Mahbub Alam, one of the affected farmers, told The Business Post, “The flood has submerged all our ponds. I have invested a lot of money in the business taking loans from bank. Now everything is finished.
“Not only I have lost my capital, but also worried about how I will repay the bank loan.”
