Fishing activities in Kaptai Lake resumed on August 11, 2026, after a three-month-and-15-day ban, leading to a record catch of 193 tonnes of fish. The fish landing stations in Rangamati district collected over Taka 42.40 lakh in government revenue on the first day alone. This significant catch was 54 percent higher than the corresponding figure from the previous year.
According to the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC), fish have been arriving from various parts of Kaptai Lake since the resumption of fishing. The catch is being preserved with ice and transported to wholesale markets in Chattogram, Dhaka, and northern Bangladesh. The resumption of full-scale fishing has invigorated the local fishing community and traders.
To maintain order at the landing stations, the BFDC has implemented strict regulations. Effective August 12, fishing trawlers and boats are prohibited from docking after 7pm. Authorities emphasized the importance of proper management to ensure a steady fish supply throughout the year.
Md Abdur Shukkur, general secretary of the Rangamati Fish Traders' Association, expressed optimism about the season's fish production, predicting good profits for fishermen and traders. The fishing ban, initially imposed on April 25 to facilitate the breeding of carp species, was extended until August 10 due to delayed normalization of the lake's water level.
This year's successful resumption of fishing is expected to boost local economies and ensure fish availability in markets across Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of regulated fishing practices.
