Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar has called for the government to issue fishing identity cards to both men and women, noting that only 4 percent of cards currently go to women. She stressed that women play an equal, and often greater, role in fishing families but remain excluded from resources and recognition.
She made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at the National Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Fisheries Management, held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, organized by the Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) and Jago Nari under the EU-supported EWCSA project with technical assistance from Oxfam Bangladesh.
Two studies were presented at the dialogue: “Empowering Women Fishers: A Guide to Gender Equality and Sustainable Fisheries” by CNRS, and “Risks and Dos and Don’ts: A Study on Women Fishers in the Coastal Regions of Bangladesh” by Jago Nari. Both emphasized recognition of women’s work in fishing, processing, collection, and marketing, and called for gender-based fisheries policies. CNRS Advisor Dr. Aminul Islam proposed a new definition of “fisher” that includes any citizen, regardless of gender, who spends most of their time or income in the sector.
Director General of the Department of Fisheries, Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, acknowledged women’s major contributions but noted they face around 30 percent wage discrimination. He suggested that introducing Fisherfolk Identity Cards (FID) would give women access to assistance and subsidies. Oxfam Coordinator Shahjadi Begum added that women face unique challenges, such as losing fingerprints while handling fish, which affects even their voting rights. Participants urged a more integrated, climate-sensitive fisheries policy to ensure sustainability and protect women’s livelihoods.
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