Adviser: Women Fishers Must Be Provided ID Cards
Fisheries and Livestock Affairs Adviser Farida Akhter today stressed on issuing ID cards against women involved in fishing along with their male counterparts. "Fishing is a family profession. Women often work harder but remain unrecognized. Only four percent of registered fishers are women, despite their significant contribution to the profession. They must be recognized and must have ID cards," she said.
The adviser made this remarks while speaking at a national policy dialogue on sustainable fisheries management at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. Centre for Natural Resources Studies (CNRS), a non-government research organization, organized the dialogue. CNRS Director Dr. M Aminul Islam presented the keynote paper at the event.
The adviser emphasized on updating legal frameworks to support female fishers and removing bureaucratic tangles that prevent them from accessing benefits when their spouses are missing or deceased. She also noted issues like misuse of fisher cards, the need for bio-rights-based leasing of waterbodies, and action against harmful fishing practices. In this connection, she said the government is in talks with the ministry of finance to expand government support to the fishers during fishing bans. Director General of Fisheries Department Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf said women earn 30 percent less than men in the sector.
He called for reforms to ensure fair wages and access to resources. “Only 44,000 of 1.7 million registered fishers are women,” he revealed. The dialogue brought together government officials, researchers, civil society, and fishing community representatives.
