Dhaka: Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday demanded making a digital database of real fishermen with identity cards and providing them assistance during the ban on fishing.

Speaking at the seminar on ‘Contribution of fishing community to national economy should be recognised and addressed’ at Cirdap Auditorium in the city, they also demanded that the government assistance should be distributed through the bank accounts of respective fishermen.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayon Chandra Chanda was the chief guest at the programme organised by COAST Trust CLS project.

Researcher Reshad Alam presented a research paper on ‘Legal Rights of Fishing Community and Development of Livelihood’ at the seminar.

Among others, member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Muhammed Mostafa Biswas MP, Team Leader of CLS Jerome Sayer, Researcher of Chandpur Hilsha Research Centre Dr Anichur Raman and Secretary of Bhola Fishermen Somity Nurul Islam were present.

The state minister said underscored the need for an agreement and rules involving Home, Shipping, Forest and Environment, Land, Fisheries and Livestock ministries to ensure rights of the fishing community and increase fish production.

He also assured of taking steps to provide fishermen aid money through SMS and establish a digital database.