Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) yesterday in Savar handed over 10 boats, made of fibre-reinforced plastic, to 50 fishermen, one for five men, of the southwestern districts.
FAO delivered the boats as a part of its project — ‘Support to Assist Landless, Marginal and Small Farmers to Overcome Soaring Input and Food Prices in Impoverished Areas of Bangladesh’, with the financial support of European Union Food Facility Fund.
Fisherman Yousuf Hawladar of Mehendiganj in Barisal, in his reaction, said he would not need to share his catch with the ‘mohajons’ (money lenders) as he could now sail his own boat.
The boats come with a 16 horse-powered engine, three fuel tanks, two life buoys, two anchors, two rudders, a compass, a radio receiver, a torch, sailcloth and a set of navigation bulbs.
El Zein El Muzamil, FAO senior emergency coordinator, said, “Unbreakable and unsinkable, the boats will last 25 years if properly maintained.”
Department of Fisheries Director General Mahbubur Rahman Khan, FAO Representative Ad Spijkers and EU in Bangladesh Section Chief Koen Duchateau were present at the programme.
