Govt moves to revive shrimp sector: Land minister

Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu on Tuesday said the government has taken steps to revitalise the shrimp sector and increase state revenue by resolving long-standing legal and administrative complexities in management of shrimp enclosures across the country.

To this end, he said, committees at the upazila, district, and national levels, tasked with the management of shrimp enclosures, will be reorganised and relevant laws and policies will be amended. 

Minu said effective measures will also be taken to protect the interests of farmers and the people involved in this sector.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters following an inter-ministerial meeting on the management of shrimp enclosures held at the conference room of the Ministry of Land at the Secretariat here.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad attended the meeting as the chief guest. State Minister for Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, Land Secretary Md Emdadul Hoq Chowdhury, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and senior officials from different departments were present.

The land minister said the shrimp sector in Bangladesh holds immense economic potential. 

"However, various complexities have emerged in its management over the past few decades. These issues have not only prevented the government from collecting the expected revenue but have also created significant challenges for those engaged in shrimp farming," he said.

He said these persistent problems have resulted in a loss of government revenue, while simultaneously hindering those involved in the sector from conducting their operations effectively. 

Noting that the government is seriously addressing this situation, Minu said the development of the shrimp sector is not only vital for increasing government revenue but is also deeply linked to the livelihoods and economic activities of a large number of people.

So, he said, it is an urgent to resolve these long-standing complications and restore the smooth operation of the sector.

Meanwhile, following the same meeting, Helal Uddin informed reporters that a framework for the management of shrimp enclosures and the collection of revenue from this sector had been established through an order issued in 2016.

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The meeting reached decisions on how to effectively collect revenue in light of that order, he said.

He said the way this sector was managed in the past, with various irregularities and mismanagement, resulted in a loss of potential revenue for the country. 

To address this, he said, the committees responsible for managing shrimp enclosures at the upazila, district, and national levels will be reconstituted to ensure they function more effectively.

The state minister said a decision has been made to amend the necessary laws and policies to resolve existing issues within the sector.

The government's aim is to restore discipline in the management of shrimp enclosures, increase revenue collection, and transform the ministry into a transparent, service-oriented entity, he added.