By Ohidur Rahman from Netrakona
The use of the China Duari Net has become a major threat to local fish species and aquatic biodiversity in the haor (wetland) regions of Bangladesh. This illegal fishing gear indiscriminately traps and kills small fish, fish fry, shrimp, fish eggs, turtles, frogs, crabs, and other aquatic species which causes severe ecological damage.
Despite being completely banned under national fisheries regulations, the use of China Duari nets continues to increase across various water bodies.
With the aim to address this growing concern, Green Coalition Netrakona and the BARCIK organized a human chain in front of the Netrakona Press Club recently with the support of the Agroecology Fund. During the event, a memorandum was submitted through the Netrakona Deputy Commissioner to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Bangladesh.
Speakers at the rally included Tanvin Jahan Chowdhury, President of the Save Nature Movement; Yogesh Chandra Das, President of the fisher organization Janma; journalist Alpana Begum, Vice President of the Green Coalition; Rifat Ahmed Russell, President of Save the Animals of Susang; journalist Mirza Hriday Sagar; writer and researcher Sohrab Uddin Akand; social worker Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty; and Md. Ohidur Rahman, Regional Coordinator of BARCIK and an environmental activist, along with farmers, youths, and local women.
Speakers mentioned that China Duari Net poses a grave threat to the haor ecosystem. The nets extremely fine mesh traps fish of all sizes, including breeding fish and eggs, which disrupts natural reproduction and causes species decline. Moreover, its use destroys underwater vegetation and micro-organisms that serve as fish habitats and food sources that ultimately damages the entire aquatic food chain and ecosystem balance.
The participants urged the government to strictly enforce laws prohibiting the production, storage, import, sale, and use of China Duari and other illegal fishing nets. Regular monitoring, raids, and strict legal action were demanded against those involved in their production or trade. The speakers called for the complete ban and enforcement of existing laws across rivers, canals, haors, and wetlands, alongside enhanced supervision by the Department of Fisheries.
The event concluded with the submission of a memorandum by the Netrakona District Green Coalition Committee to the government advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, demanding urgent action to eliminate China Duari nets.
