As a partner organisation of ANB, Seafood Network Bangladesh (SNB) attended the workshop to cover industry developments and promote sector-wide knowledge sharing. Representatives from FISHBYTE, another ANB partner, were also present and participated actively in the discussions.

Broad Representation Across Government, Academia, and Industry

The event was chaired by Prof. Dr. Md. Monirul Islam (University of Dhaka / BFRF).
Mr. Abu Tahir Muhammed Zaber, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, attended as Chief Guest.

Distinguished Special Guests included:

• Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Director General, Department of Fisheries
• Rear Admiral Dr. Khandakar Akhter Hossain, Vice-Chancellor, Bangladesh Marine University

The workshop began with a welcome session and an introduction to ANB delivered by Prof. Dr. Md. Lifat Rahi of Khulna University (BSFF).

ANB’s partner organizations represented at the event included Bangladesh Marine University (BMU), Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum (BFRF), private sector partner FISHBYTE.

Workshop Sessions and Key Presentations

The workshop aimed to:

• Share findings from recent regional dialogues with shrimp, finfish, hatchery, and smallholder farming communities.
• Facilitate policy-oriented discussions between government, researchers, industry, and field-level actors.
• Identify strategic priorities needed to guide a future National Aquaculture Policy.

Keynote presentations included:

• Dr. Md. Motaleb Hossain – Current status and advancement of Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector
• Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Wahab – Why Bangladesh needs a National Aquaculture Policy
• Dr. Maria Zaman – Integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) into aquaculture development

Following the technical session, a panel discussion and an open floor dialogue allowed participants to exchange practical perspectives on industry challenges, governance gaps, and policy opportunities.

Toward a More Sustainable and Inclusive Aquaculture Policy

The workshop concluded with shared expectations to:

• Establish clear and actionable policy priorities for sustainable aquaculture development.
• Strengthen knowledge-sharing mechanisms between government, academia, private sector, and farming communities.
• Enhance stakeholder networking to encourage coordinated sector growth.
• Develop practical, inclusive, and climate-resilient recommendations for the proposed National Aquaculture Policy of Bangladesh.

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The automation of e-certification and laboratory information management services related to fish/shrimp and animal product imports and exports was inaugurated by SM Rezaul Karim, the Fisheries and Livestock Minister, in Dhaka yesterday. This joint effort was organized by the Department of Fisheries and the Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

One of the most significant advantages of this digital transformation is that individuals and businesses will no longer need to make in-person visits to government offices to obtain the 20 licenses and product test certificates required for international fish and seafood trade.

The e-certification system offers swift access to a range of services, including licenses, health certificates, and additional health certificates as per the importing country’s requirements, import registration certificates, non-objection certificates, payment processing, sample collection, inspections, test reports, and certificate issuance. Importantly, this system will be directly linked to customs procedures, effectively eliminating time-consuming bottlenecks at ports, according to authorities.

Addressing the launch event, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim underscored the significance of digitizing the e-certification and laboratory information management system within the Department of Fisheries. He described it as a pivotal step toward transforming Bangladesh into a technologically advanced nation. Furthermore, he emphasized that this automation would play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with the requirements of countries importing Bangladeshi fish and seafood products, positioning Bangladesh as a collaborative player on the global stage.

Kha Mahbubul Hoque, the Director General of the Department of Fisheries, highlighted that users of this new service will be able to monitor the status of various product inspections through a user-friendly dashboard, resulting in substantial reductions in both time and expenses associated with these processes. Additionally, he mentioned that the acceptance of “paper applications” for licensing will soon be phased out within the next one to two months.

Importers and exporters participating in the program expressed their enthusiasm for the automation, citing time and cost savings as key benefits. They also recognized that the ability to provide health certificates based on international standards would significantly enhance the global acceptability of their products, ultimately contributing to the growth of international trade in Bangladeshi fish and seafood.

Bangladesh’s introduction of e-certification and lab management systems marks a pivotal moment in the country’s quest to simplify and enhance its global fish and seafood trade. This technological advancement not only streamlines administrative processes but also aligns Bangladeshi products with international standards, opening up new opportunities for growth and collaboration in the global marketplace.

The post Streamlining fish, shrimp export-import in Bangladesh with E-certification appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

KH Mahbubul Haque, the Director General of Bangladesh Fisheries, attended the workshop as the chief guest. The event attracted various prominent individuals and both private and public stakeholders involved in carp production and research. On behalf of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), KH Mahbubul Haque officially received the rapidly-growing WorldFish Generation Three (G3) Rohu.

In 2012, WorldFish implemented the Carp Genetic Improvement Program (CGIP), which involved collecting juvenile Rohu, Catla, and Silver Carp fish and their spawns from three rivers in Bangladesh—Padma, Jamuna, and Halda. The G3 Rohu strains were then cultivated in 19 hatcheries for an on-farm trial in 2022. The trial demonstrated that the G3 Rohu weighed 37% more than conventional varieties.

During the workshop, Mohammad Yeasin, the Dissemination Manager of WorldFish, expressed, “The adoption of the G3 Rohu brood by the Bangladesh Fisheries Department will accelerate the dissemination of this improved breed of Rohu throughout the entire country.”

The post WorldFish handed over rapidly-growing G3 Rohu to DoF Bangladesh appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production. 

Black Tiger Shrimp or Bagda Shrimp is found in several countries in Asia. But the features it has here will not match to any other. Especially because of the taste and aroma, it stands out among all. The Bagda shrimp has its fame across the globe among the seafood enthusiast.

Jamdani shari (a heritage woman dress) got the first GI certificate in the country. Later Muslin of Dhaka, Silk from Rajshahi, Shataranji (woven rug) from Rangpur, Saadamati (white clay) from Netrakona, Kataribhog rice from Dinajpur, Kalijira rice, Hilsa fish and Khirsapat mango from Chapainawabganj got recognition as GI products. These products are known all over the world as Bangladesh’s own products.

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