ICA/BJSU/ODA Seminar on Fisheries Co-operatives- Final Report

Abstract

A National Seminar on Fisheries Cooperatives was held at Dkaha from 29th April to 6th May, 1991. This was organised by the Bangladesh Jatiya Samabaya Union (BJSU) with assistance of the ICA Fisheries Committee and financial support of the Official Development Aid (ODA) of the Japanese Government. The seminar was the first of its kind, the aim of which was to develop human resources in the fisheries cooperative sector in Bangladesh and make the Fishermen’s cooperatives economically viable and strong. The seminar was ceremonially inaugurated on 29th April at 10 AM at Hotel Sonargaon by Mr. A. S. M Mustafizur Raham, Honorable Foreign Minister, Govt, of Bangladesh, in presence of the dignitaries of home and aboard. The inaugural session was presided over by Alhaj Liaquat Ali, Chairman , BJSU and addressed among others, bu Mr. Md. Shahid ullah. General Secretary, BJSU,Mr, Abu Taher, Chairman, Bangladesh Jatiya Matshajibi Samabaya Samily Ltd. Mr. Mahfuzul Islam, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Bangladesh and Mr. Osamu Kusunoki, Deputy Manager of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations of Japan. The participants of the seminar were mostly the leaders of the Fisheries cooperatives of primary ,central (secondary) and national level. Representatives from Govt, bodies such as cooperative Directorate, Fisheries Directorate, Fisheries faculty of the Agricultural University and international organisation like the Centre for International Rural Development of Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) also participated in the seminar. Experts from home and abroad presented papers on different topics and guided the discussion of the seminar . The seminar comprising 13 sessions in 8 days led to familiarising the modem techniques, strategy, equipments, vessels and trawlers now being used by the countries having been expartised in fishing, processing and marketing etc. as well as discussions on problems and different aspects of solutions thereof for development of fisheries cooperative sector in Bangladesh. Several suggestions and recommendations were made . A study visit to fishery cooperatives in Chittagong for 2 days on 3rd and 4th May was scheduled but this could not be held due to great devastation caused by the unprecedented cyclone and tidal bore run over the northern coastal belt of the country including Chittagong city on 29th April 1991 which led about 0.2 million people dead and damaged properties worth billions. The seminar concluded on 6th May, 1991. However, the Seminar was a successful one and it is hoped that this will bring positive changes in the workings of the fisheries cooperatives in Bangladesh, leading to prepress and development in future.