The fishermen of Savar upazila yesterday said many of them were forced to change their profession since fish stocks were depleting in the rivers and beels due to pollution and grabbing.

They demanded protection of the rivers Bangshi, Dholeshwari and Turag and other water bodies including Cornapara, Cornotoli, Bill Baghil, and Dholaibil canals.

Toxic waste from surrounding dyeing, spinning and textile mills and dairy farms flows into these rivers and canals polluting their water and affecting breeding of fish, they told The Daily Star in Savar upazila auditorium where they gathered to collect fishermen's identity cards.

The Department of Fisheries yesterday gave smart identity cards to 137 out of some 1,400 fishers of the upazila of Dhaka, which will entitle them to benefits like receiving compensations during fishing bans and getting the lease of water bodies for fish farming, said officials.

Among the 137 was a woman, Madhu Bala, 42.

The other fishermen will get ID cards gradually, officials said.

Md Shalimullah, upazila fisheries officer of Savar, said many fishermen did not apply because they did not know about the opportunity. "We already informed the high officials about it. I hope they will find a way to include the rest," he said.

However, referring to the depletion of fish stocks, Onil Rajbangshi, a recipient of the identity card, said, "What is the point of getting an ID card if we cannot sustain in the profession?"

Horeram Sarker, 35, said, "My father, grandfather and their forefathers were involved with fishing. They did not have cards but they were known as fishermen."

He called for protecting their ancestral profession.