The house is dilapidated. The tin roof is rusty. The surrounding fence and door are broken. The windows are hanging in some way. In some places, polythene and blanket canopies have been placed to prevent rainwater. The condition of the toilet is the same. Fakir Chan Das lives in that house with his wife and two daughters.
” Fakir Chan is a fisherman. He makes a living by fishing in the river. He never breaks the rules set by the government while fishing. That’s why Fakir Chan also received respect. The state honor came to light from that dilapidated house. Through his hand, a fisherman in Sitakunda, Chittagong, received a state award for the first time. “
A ceremony was held at the China-Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Monday (August 18) to mark National Fisheries Week. Fakir Chan received the bronze medal from Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus at the event.
Fakir Chan’s house is in the canal of Uttar Jelepara in Kumira Union of Sitakunda. He is close to 70 years old. He has a tin shed house on just two hundred acres of land.
Girls should be careful.
On Wednesday, this reporter went to Fakir Chan’s house and saw a broken door as soon as he entered. Inside, there were four rooms made of bamboo fences and a small veranda. Fakir Chan, a father of five daughters, married off three of his daughters. The two younger daughters are studying. The eldest daughter, Kanika Das, is in her second year of graduation, while the younger daughter, Pooja Das, is in grade 11. Although he himself is not studying, he is trying to provide girls with higher education opportunities. Fakir Chan said, “I could not study in a poor family. I want to educate my children. Let them grow up. Let them be taken care of.”
‘I fell in love with fishing’
Fakir Chan said, ‘My grandparents also used to fish. I fish based on that tradition. I have 14 traps (places to set nets) inherited from my ancestors in the sea. But there are few fish in the Sandwip channel. It is difficult to run a family. Still, I fish. I have fallen in love with fishing.’
Fakir Chan hires two or three employees to collect the fish during the hilsa season. They have to pay 25,000 taka every month. They have to pay for breakfast and food. There is money for the fish. ‘Currently, I have a debt of about five lakh taka. Due to the debt, I also do farming after the fishing season.’
There is no greater gain than this.
Younger daughter Pooja Das is happy that her father received the medal. She said, “It is a great honor for us to receive the medal from our father. Our father never earned money through dishonest means. He fished according to government rules. He is in need, yet he is not wronged.” An illiterate person received the award standing next to the head of state, what greater achievement could there be?
Fakir Chan’s dilapidated house. Photo: postcard
There is a shortage, but still don’t break the rules.
Neighbor Biplob Jaldas said, “Fakir Chan never uses banned nets. He obeys the ban on the sea and encourages others to do the same. He has educated his children despite poverty. He deserves this award from the government.”
” Fakir Chan has a good reputation throughout the area. He follows the law in everything from fishing to fishing. Everyone has a good relationship with him. The fishermen of Kumira together proposed Fakir Chan’s name to the upazila fisheries officer’s office for a reward. “
Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Motasim Billah said that the nomination was given based on various criteria. The director of the Fisheries Department came to Kumira on site and spoke to the nominated person’s house, neighbors and local fishermen’s leaders and conferred this honor on Fakir Chan.
KHALED / POSTCARD ;
