Md. Monir Hossain Patwari, Reporter || The government is releasing fish fry across the country to conserve native species and increase fish production, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said on Saturday.Speaking to reporters after a fish fry release programme at the lake of Bangladesh National Zoo in Dhaka, he said the initiative was launched as part of National Fisheries Week 2026.The programme was inaugurated in Kishoreganj by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and fry are now being released in different districts and upazilas, the state minister said.He said increasing fish production and protecting native species are among the government’s key priorities. Despite a growing population, Bangladesh currently has no significant shortage of fish, while freshwater fish production continues to rise.The government is also providing support to marginal fish farmers, including plans to bring them under the Farmers’ Card programme and provide loans on easier terms and other incentives, Tuku said.On the use of fish feed and antibiotics, he said farmers are being trained to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use and adopt modern and scientific farming methods.The government is also conducting regular monitoring and mobile court drives to prevent the production and marketing of substandard fish feed, he added.At Saturday’s programme, around 2,575 fish fry weighing 250kg were released into the National Zoo lake. The fry included around 1,100 rohu, 600 catla and 875 kalibaus, each measuring 10-15 centimetres.The programme was organised by the Dhaka District Fisheries Office. Officials from the fisheries and livestock departments and other relevant agencies attended.