Tidal waves wash away 1,000 fish enclosures in Bagerhat

At least 1,000 fish enclosures were washed away by tidal waves in Bagerhat in the last four days.

Fish farmers said water levels rose three feet higher than normal levels in many areas of Bagerhat's Rampal, Mongla, and Morrelganj upazilas due to heavy rainfall and the new moon.

The farmers claimed the tidal surge washed away at least 1,000 fish enclosures in the three upazilas of the district.

Abdul Halim, a fish farmer of Uttar Fulhata village of Morrelganj upazila, said the water level has been increasing due to incessant rains in the last four days. Hundreds of fish enclosures of the village have been submerged.

Photo: Collected

Kaikobad Mridha of Ghashiakhali village said he released fish fries on 22 bighas of his land spending Tk seven lakhs. All of it has been washed away and now he doesn't know how to recoup the money.

According to the Bagerhat Department of Fisheries, some fish enclosures of low-lying areas of the three upazilas have been submerged. But, the loss and the number of fish enclosures have yet not been counted. 

Dr Khaled Konak, district fisheries officer, said, "We have received reports of incessant rains and overflowing of embankments and tidal water entering the area and damaging fish farms of Rampal, Mongla and Morrelgonj upazilas in Bagerhat. We have instructed the district and upazila fisheries officers to assess the loss."

Meanwhile, thousands of fishermen have taken shelter in the Sundarbans on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Some of them have also returned to their village home in Sharankhola.

Joynal Abedin, assistant forest conservator of the Sharankhola Range in the East Sundarbans Division, said, fishermen usually take shelter in the forest canals when there is a storm in the sea. Many fishermen have also taken shelter in the locality. If any fisherman has problems in the sea, the forest department will try to shelter and rescue them.

Not only the low-lying areas but also the main markets of Bagerhat town have also been submerged, reports our Bagerhat correspondent.

Vadra Bali of Sangdia village of Kachua upazila said "We are not able to cook our meals as the oven is full of water."