Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar. File Photo

CHATTOGRAM, July 1, 2025 (BSS)- Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar 
emphasized the importance of Halda River that is crucial for the country's 
fish resources as it serves as the only natural spawning ground in Chattogram 
for the country's major carp species like Rui, Katla, Mrigel, and Kaliboush. 

"The river is the largest natural fish breeding ground in Asia. Tobacco 
farming on the banks of Halda River and other harmful activities that damage 
it will not be tolerated. These harmful activities must stop immediately," 
she said.
 
The Fisheries Advisor announced that no type of tobacco farming will be 
allowed here from next month. 
 
She made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting with 
stakeholders and during an inspection of the Halda River, a natural fish 
breeding ground for carp fish, at the Mobarakkhil Hatchery premises in Raozan 
upazila of the district on Tuesday. 
 
"In our country, people spend Taka 37 thousand crore annually due to cancer, 
but tobacco companies pay Taka 22 thousand crore annually to the government 
as VAT. Even so, the amount of damage to the common people is much higher," 
Farida Akhtar pointed out while referring to the support of tobacco companies 
to the tobacco farmers for their business profits. 
 
Comparing the pollution of the Halda River to Buriganga River, the advisor 
said, "The pollution we observed in Buriganga River is also evident in Halda 
River. Strict steps will be taken to prevent pollution by raising awareness 
among the people."
 
She also highlighted the crucial role of Halda in increasing the production 
of carp fish and stresses the importance of preserving the river's unique 
status and protecting its fish breeding grounds from damage and pollution. 
 
The participants in the exchange of views said, "Today is the day of 
celebration for the people of Haldapar. Despite the rain and challenges, egg 
collectors in the Halda River successfully gathered more fish eggs this time 
compared to the previous collection.

During the views exchange, they expressed their happiness over the successful 
collection of fish eggs from Halda river despite challenges and called for 
better facilities including more hatcheries to support the egg collecting 
process. 
 
Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, presided over the function while 
former Principal Secretary Abdul Karim, Director General of the Department of 
Fisheries Abdur Rouf, Naval Police Superintendent AFM Nizam Uddin, Director 
of the Halda Project Mizanur Rahman, Chattogram District Fisheries Officer 
Shrivas Chandra Chanda, Halda Researcher Professor Manjurul Kibria, Director 
of the Department of Fisheries Anwar Hossain, General Secretary of the Halda 
Protection Committee, journalist Muhammad Ali and egg collectors Kamal Uddin 
Saudagar, residents of Halda riverbank, fishermen, public representatives, 
businessmen, journalists and people from various walks of life participated 
in the meeting. 
 
Earlier, Farida Akhtar released fry of Rui, Katla, and Mrigel produced from 
Renu in Halda and inaugurated drone cameras to increase surveillance for 
Halda's protection.