A Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) has signed recently between the Department of Fisheries
(DoF) under Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) for
promotion of sustainable and inclusive growth in fisheries and aquaculture
sector in Bangladesh at a city hotel recently.
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Dr. Syed Arif Azad, Director General, Department of
Fisheries (3rd from left sitting) and Syed Mahmudul Huq, chairman of
BSFF (2nd from right) signed a MOU on behalf of their respective
organizations for the promotion of sustainable and inclusive growth in
fisheries and aquaculture sector in Bangladesh.
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Under
the MoU, DoF and BSFF would collaborate and cooperate (i) to address the issues relating to challenges posed by the fall
out of climate change for the aquaculture and fisheries sector in Bangladesh, (ii) to contribute to the sustained
development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Bangladesh through
introduction of GAqP, CoC, HACCP production, distribution and internal and
external trade of fisheries resources in compliance with national and
international principles of food safety, environmental sustainability and
socially responsible way, also continue active cooperation for the improvement
of the condition and economic status of the fishermen/ fish farmers involved in
shrimp and fish cultivation, processing and marketing of fish, (iii) to undertake studies and programs
aiming at addressing the challenges posed by the fall out of climate change for
the aquaculture and fisheries sector in Bangladesh and on the possible
adaptation measures including introducing alternative livelihood opportunities
in fisheries/ aquaculture sector needed in specific locations in Bangladesh to
overcome the challenge, (iv) to
supports to the joint activities towards making the shrimp and freshwater prawn
industry more sustainable, with practical emphasis on reducing food safety
risks of concern to national and international consumers. Addressing social and
environmental issues and increasing the economic and trade benefits from the
shrimp and prawn production would be the other highlights of the MoU and related
other issues.
Dr. Syed Arif Azad, Director General, Department of Fisheries and Syed Mahmudul Huq, chairman of BSFF signed the MOU on behalf of their respective organizations.
The
MoU was witnessed by Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director BRAC
Institute of Governance and Development and former Director General of Asian
Development Bank, Dr. Mahmudul Karim, Distinguished Member of the Board, BSFF,
Mr. Goljar Hossain, Deputy Director, DoF and Dr. Md. Sainar Alam, Senior
Assistance Director, DoF.
Besides,
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman of PPRC and Adviser to the former
Caretaker Government; Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali Taslim, Chairman, Economics
Department, Dhaka University; H.E. Mr. Liaquat Ali Choudhury, former
Ambassador, Government of Bangladesh; Mr. ASM Rashidul Hai, former Secretary,
Government of Bangladesh; Mr. AKM Zafar Ullah Khan, former Secretary,
Government of Bangladesh; Mr. Anisur Rahman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of
Fisheries and Livestock; Mr. Wayne Turner, CEO, Odyssey Sensons, USA; Mr. Main
Uddin Ahmed, Managing Director, MKA Hatchery Limited were, among others, also
present during the signing of the MoU.