In Bangladesh many businessmen who have never fished or even gone near the river bank have got fishermen cards and food assistance from the government during the fishing ban every year.
On the contrary, many who live only on fishing are not registered on the list and thus do not get government assistance.
There are thousands of such fishermen in Lakshmipur and Barishal who have been victims of such deprivation for almost 10 years. The government allocates a fund for fishermen for the time when fishing is banned and they have no other source of income.
On 15 May, Torabganj Union Parishad Chairman Mirza Ashraful Jaman and Union Parishad Secretary Md Gias Uddin also said at a VGF rice distribution programme that only 10% of real fishermen are included in the rest are not fishermen at all.
Lakshmipur District General Secretary of Bangladesh Small Fishermen Association Md Shahjahan said updating the list every year will reduce the number of fake fishers and include real fishers.