The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Fishermen of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar districts affected by the cyclone Sidr in November 15 last year appealed the government to take immediate steps to write off their previous bank loans and provide them with adequate financial assistance for their rehabilitation. Greater Chittagong Fishermen Welfare Council (GCFWC) made this appeal on behalf of the Sidr affected fishermen of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar districts at a press conference held at the Chittagong Press Club on Thursday.

The GCFWC leaders said several thousands people engaged in fishing and poor workers involved in the sector who used to fishing in the Bay of Bengal staying temporarily at Dublarchar in Sundarbans were killed and suffered huge financial losses when the cyclone Sidr struck southern districts on November 15 last year.

Hundreds of survived fishermen and their families have been facing economic hardship and living a miserable life as they became jobless after damage of their fishing trawlers, boats and other assets in the disaster. Moreover, compound interest against the loans taken from the banks and 'mahajans' has made them financially crippled, they said.

The leaders claimed that the affected fishermen of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar regions did not get any cash or material assistance yet though they have handed over memorandums to different levels of the government and officials of Islamic Development Bank earlier describing the extent of their economic losses, names of dead and affected fishermen. They requested the Chief Adviser to take urgent steps including providing the fishermen with cash incentives so that the affected fishermen in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar districts could be able to get back their job.

The GCFWC leaders including president Rabi Chand Das, general secretary Samiran Das, Sattyaranjan Das and Babul Kanti Das, among others, spoke at the press conference.