Cooperative and legal agreements among the ministries are needed to ensure the rights of fishermen, says Narayon Chandra Chanda, State Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources. He made the assertion while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on legal rights and livelihood development of coastal fishing community, held at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city on Wednesday, says a press release. COAST Trust CLS project organised the seminar, styled Contribution of Fishing Community to National Economy Should be Recognised and Addressed.’ Addressing the programme, the state minister underscored the need for developing a database for the fishermen in order to offer them right kind of supports for their development. “There is no alternative to develop a fishermen database in the country. This database would help the government while giving a platform for the fishermen to be organised, raise their voices and establish community rights,” he said. Narayan Chanda said fishing has been one of the oldest professions in the country, but the fate of the fishermen has hardly been changed. This is partly because the fishermen did not find the right path to change their fate by themselves. For instance, he said, a small saving from their income might have a great impact on their families and generations. Adaptation to the innovations in fish cultivation could also help them to earn more, he added. Muhammed Mostafa Biswas, MP, and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries and Livestock, was present at the seminar and spoke. Reshad Alam presented the research paper on Legal Rights of Fishing Community and Development of Livelihood’ at the seminar, moderated by Sanat Kumar Bhowmik.