Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called on the people of Bangladesh to adopt a kinder approach toward the environment in order to safeguard the country’s vast fisheries resources, warning that reckless treatment of nature could one day lead to the disappearance of fish from the nation’s rivers and waters.
Speaking at the inauguration of National Fisheries Week 2025 at the China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon on Monday, Dr. Yunus said, “Fish are nature’s gift to us, not something produced in a factory but a blessing from God. Yet we have become so unkind that one day fish may vanish from our fate altogether.”
The ceremony was attended by members of the Advisory Council, senior government officials, fish farmers, entrepreneurs, and researchers. In his keynote speech, Dr. Yunus reminded the audience that harming nature today risks depriving future generations of food security and livelihoods.
Criticizing current practices, he said, “We talk about taming rivers, but never about nurturing them. We dump waste and toxic chemicals into rivers, canals, and wetlands. If there is no clean water, where will the fish come from?”
Highlighting Bangladesh’s geographical advantages and rich water resources, Dr. Yunus noted that the fisheries sector directly or indirectly employs millions of people, including nearly 1.2 million women. Yet, he added, the struggles of traditional fishers are often overlooked. “We only look at the price of fish or whether it is fresh, but we forget the labor of those who bring fish to our tables. Today is a day to remember them,” he said.
Pointing to the Bay of Bengal’s potential, the Chief Adviser urged the nation to explore deep-sea opportunities not just for catching more fish but also for building a new industry. “The Bay is waiting with its gifts,” he said, stressing the need for research, international cooperation, and academic inclusion of marine studies to maximize this potential.
Dr. Yunus condemned the use of illegal nets and indiscriminate fishing as “cruelty to nature” and called for strong measures against such practices. He emphasized that protecting fisheries is not solely the government’s responsibility but a civic duty as well. “Every morning we must pledge—today I will be kind to nature. Without kindness to nature, our future cannot be sustainable,” he declared.
The Chief Adviser further said that eco-friendly aquaculture and greater involvement of youth can strengthen the fisheries industry. Alongside the inauguration, the government awarded the National Fisheries Medal 2025 to individuals and institutions across nine categories for their outstanding contributions to the sector.
The event also featured speeches from Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar and acting Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Tofazzel Hossain. This year’s Fisheries Week, themed “Let Us Create Fish Sanctuaries, Let Our Native Fish Enrich the Nation,” will run for seven days with exhibitions, workshops, and seminars designed to raise awareness about modern farming technology, fish preservation, and marketing.