Staff Correspondent

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged people to protect rivers and water sources and be kind to nature, warning that reckless pollution threatens the country’s fisheries resources and public health.

“Fish is a gift of nature to us. We do not make it in a factory, and we do not hire any workers to produce it. We take it as a gift from Allah…we are supposed to be kind to nature, but we have been very unkind and cruel to it,” he said.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks while inaugurating National Fisheries Week 2025 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

He said rivers and other water sources constantly provide various foods, including fish. “We just catch fish and eat…but it does not come to our mind to be kind to it.”

Prof Yunus said people need to think about being kind to nature that provides fish for them. “This seems to me the most important thing. As we are being so ruthless, fish may also vanish from us someday along with other things.”

The Chief Adviser lamented that people are throwing all kinds of waste into the water, including poisonous substances.

“We talk about river training… We do not talk about river nursing. In the name of river training, we do cruel things to it. We dump our waste into the water and do not care that this waste turns into poison and comes back to us,” he observed.

Apart from waste, Prof Yunus said all kinds of poisons and harmful substances are being thrown into the water. “We also do not care whether that water will exist in the future or not. We feel it is Allah’s duty to feed us no matter what we do, no matter how much we torture it.”

On this Fish Week, he urged all not to forget protecting water from contamination. “We will get fish as long as we can preserve water.”

The Chief Adviser expressed gratitude to nature, which has been kind enough to bless Bangladesh with vast water resources.

“On this day, we promise to be humble towards nature. Otherwise, nature will not be able to fulfill its great responsibility because of our mistreatment,” he cautioned.

Prof Yunus said the potential of fish is great, but there is also much cause for concern. “I feel it is my duty to remind people of the risks and urge all to promise to be kind to nature to enjoy its gifts.”

He warned that it is becoming difficult to protect nature as people destroy it every day for their personal interests. “We must make all arrangements to protect it so that we can live in harmony with nature.”

The Chief Adviser emphasised that eco-friendly farming and greater involvement of young people could further strengthen the fisheries sector.

Stating that Bangladesh’s rivers and water resources offer huge opportunities for fish production, he said lakhs of people, including 12 lakh women, are directly or indirectly involved in the fisheries sector. “But many genuine fishermen often face tough challenges,” he noted.

Prof Yunus said the celebration of Fish Week is a way to show gratitude to those who catch fish and bring it fresh to people despite various obstacles. “Fish is our favourite food, yet we hardly remember those who work tirelessly to bring it to our tables….today it is about remembering them.”

He cited the story of a fish seller who had travelled overnight from Chattogram to Dhaka with fresh ‘Shing fish’ (stinging catfish) but came under fire while selling them. “That is just one example,” Dr Yunus said, adding that people working in the fisheries sector often face enormous challenges.

He called for including fishers in social safety programmes to help those involved in the sector avoid financial hardship.

The Chief Adviser highlighted the vast potential of Bangladesh’s fisheries sector, particularly in deep-sea fishing, which he said should be tapped more effectively.

“The Bay of Bengal is waiting to share its gifts with us. It’s not just about catching more fish, but also about building a new industry. For that, we need research, international cooperation, and inclusion of the subject in university courses,” he said.

He said Bangladesh has already spoken with friendly countries about protecting the coast and marine resources, and they have responded positively.

Describing the use of illegal nets and reckless fishing as “cruelty to nature”, Prof Yunus called for strict action against such practices, saying it is not only the government’s responsibility but also a duty of citizens. “We must all play our part so that future generations are not deprived of these resources.”

He also voiced concern that many indigenous fish species are disappearing from nature due to poor management of water bodies.

At the event, Professor Yunus handed over the National Fisheries Award 2025 to individuals and organisations in nine categories for their special contributions to the sector.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Secretary (Routine Duty) of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Tofazzel Hossain and Acting Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr Md Abdur Rouf also spoke at the programme.