Mismanagement, corruption claims plague Lakshmipur fish breeding centre

A government fish breeding and training centre in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur, once considered one of the largest in Southeast Asia, is facing a sharp decline due to mismanagement, manpower shortages and prolonged neglect.
Allegations of irregularities and corruption have also surfaced in an ongoing renovation project worth around Tk1 crore.
Established in the 1980s on 54 acres of land, the hatchery began full-scale operations in 1981 and earned nationwide recognition for producing quality fish spawn and fry. However, over the past two decades, the facility has been struggling with multiple challenges.
A recent visit found that renovation work, including re-excavation of 21 ponds and internal road development, is underway under the Department of Fisheries. Allegation of using low-standard material in construction has surfaced, although the contractor Ziarul Haque and the high officials of the hatchery have denied the allegations.
Sources said the peak production season runs from March to August, but due to power shortages and insufficient manpower, the hatchery is currently able to meet less than 30% of farmers’ demand.
Of the 84 sanctioned posts, only 21 are filled, leaving 63 vacant. 
Key posts, including senior scientific officer, scientific officer, laboratory assistant and fisheries supervisor, remain unfilled. All eight of the fishermen posts are vacant, while only four out of eight security guard positions are occupied. Several staff members are also nearing retirement.
According to the official data, infrastructure deterioration has further worsened the condition. Of the 69 ponds, 30 are now unusable due to a lack of maintenance. Many embankments have collapsed, while some ponds have turned into open fields. Low-voltage problems have rendered deep tube wells ineffective, causing acute water shortages.
Due to water scarcity, around 200 brood fish, each weighing seven to eight kilograms, have died this year. Authorities are now using water from the nearby River Dakatia, which is often polluted, affecting spawn quality.
Lakshmipur-2 lawmaker MP Abul Khayer Bhuiyan said farmers depend more on government hatcheries due to concerns over the quality of fry from private sources. He expressed hope that proper supervision and recruitment would help restore the hatchery’s performance and said he would raise the issue with the ministry.
Deputy Director of the Raipur Fish Breeding Centre, Ajit Kumar Pal, acknowledged that the facility, once among the largest in Asia, is now facing multiple constraints, particularly manpower shortages.
Production will be boosted if the current issues are resolved properly, he said, adding that steps have been taken to ensure quality work.