BANGLADESH - Construction of a high-tech laboratory has started in Savar to test for chemical contamination in fish and fishery products before they are exported to countries like Japan and those of the European Union.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas laid the foundation stone for 'Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) Laboratory, Dhaka' beside the site for Livestock Research Institute.

Local lawmaker Talukder Mohammad Towhid Jang Murad, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Bikash Dutta and Director General of Fisheries Directorate Syed Arif Azad were present at the ceremony.

The laboratory is being constructed at an estimated cost of Tk 125 million under a Fisheries Directorate project titled 'Strengthening Fishery and Aquaculture Food Safety and Quality Management System in Bangladesh'.

Speaking at the ... Read more »

BANGLADESH - More than 0.2 million shrimp cultivators of southwestern region are in frustration due to sharp fall in price of produced shrimp in the local market.

Shrimp is now being sold at Tk. 400-500 per kg in place of Tk. 900-1000 even in last one a and half month ago.

The shrimp farmers allege that this situation has been created by a dishonest syndicate of shrimp processing units and exporters. But the exporters said that price has been fallen in the international market due to global economic recession. As a result the target of export of frozen foods would not be achieved.

Cultivators sources said a virus affected the shrimp farms in southwestern region from the beginning of this season. Moreover, production co ... Read more »