Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar today spoke with journalists after a view-exchange meeting in Rangamati. Photo : BSS

RANGAMATI, Oct 27, 2025 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar today said the national elections will be held next February as per the declaration of the Chief Adviser (CA). 

“We are moving forward with that process . . . Election Commission will announce the election schedule,” she told reporters in front of the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office after a view-exchange meeting with stakeholders of Kaptai Lake held at the DC conference room here.

About the step of protecting Kaptai Lake, Farida said dredging of the lake is the main demand of everyone. Moreover, the level of pollution in Kaptai Lake is also increasing day by day, she added.

She said a decision will be taken soon after talking to the local government, the Ministry of Environment and other concerned parties about the pollution. 

Due to the accumulation of silt in Kaptai Lake, she said, the water level has decreased, and large fish are not able to stay in the upper water layer. Due to this, the abundance of small fish in the lake has increased. Along with the government, everyone must come forward to protect the lake, she added.

Rangamati Local Government Department Deputy Director Md. Mobarak Hossain chaired the meeting and Additional Deputy Commissioner Md. Ruhul Amin moderated it. 

Chairman (Additional Secretary) of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Farah Shammi, District Civil Surgeon Dr. Nuen Khisa, District Jamaat Ameer Md. Abdul Alim, District Nationalist Fishermen's Party President Md. Nurul Islam Bacha, District NCP Coordinator Md. Zahidul Islam, Nagarik Parishad representative M. A. Bashar, Anti-Discrimination Student Representative Sayeda Islam Sadia, District Fisheries Traders' Association General Secretary Md. Abdur Shukkur, Professional Fishermen's Cooperative Association President Mohar Ali, among others, were present at the meeting.  

At the beginning of the meeting, District BFDC Manager Commander Mohammad Faiz Al Karim presented a video presentation on various problems and prospects of Kaptai Lake. 

The advisor is scheduled to visit Kaptai Karnaphuli Hydropower Plant, BFDC's Kaptai Sub-Station and BFIDC site this afternoon.