Shafiul Alam Mukta, a fish farmer of Pirijpur village under Godagari upazila of the district, built a sanctuary for local varieties of fish on the Padma river on a tiny scale. This small effort has now become a dream-weaver for the Department of Fisheries. Fisheries officers in Rajshahi have disclosed now local varieties of fish fries and spawns of rare and endangered species are being released to 27 branches and tributaries of the Padma river from the fish sanctuary initiated by Mukta. Shafiul Alam Mukta started his project of fish sanctuary on a small scale with his friend Sree Sharat Chandra in 2014 at the captive water body on the river Padma flowing beside his house. His success at the first year made the officials of the department of Fisheries astonished. Soon, the entire office of the department of fisheries came forward to co-operate Mukta in all ways. 40 young men of the area also extended their hands with him and now, within just two years of starting of the project in an experimental basis, Mukta has now build a large fish sanctuary on the river Padma. Mukta informed, in December 2014, the water level of the river Padma depleted at its lowest ebb. He along with his friend Sharat Chandra then decided to build a fish sanctuary in a roughly 100 metre long and 50 metre broad captive water body on the river Padma. He with his personal effort banned fishing of any sort of fish from that captive water body for next eight months. With the banning of catching fish from the sanctuary for eight months, a large number of fish of various local species breed there and fishermen of adjacent water bodies started to catch varieties of endangered and rare species of fish from there. The news ultimately reached to the local officials of the department of Fisheries who rushed to the spot and praised Mukta for his effort. On 2015, department of Fisheries extended its hands to co-operate Mukta. The same year some 500 square metre area was declared as fish sanctuary on the river Padma and that year was also a success and in 2016 one square kilometre area has been declared as fish sanctuary on the river Padma near Pirijpur. The area includes roving and breeding ground for fishes. Though Mukta started his first venture with his own fund and capacity, Department of Fisheries has provided him with necessary bamboo poles, fence, specially made culvert for fish stock movement and living. Local Member of Parliament Alhaj Omor Faruque Chowdhury also came forward to sponsor the project of Mukta. Shafiul Alam Mukta informed, fishing at the sanctuary with net is prohibited in sanctuary area but one can catch fish there by using a fishing rod or fishing wheel. Many fish hunters from around the district were rushing here now to catch fish with rods and wheels. Since varieties of rare and endangered small and medium sized fishes are not caught by rods and wheels, those fishes were now being released or visiting to various branches and tributaries of the river Padma. Naimul Haque, Assistant Fisheries officer of Godagari upazila informed, so far 85 species of fish have been found at the sanctuary of Mukta. Among large fishes there are: Kalibaush, Chitol, Folly, Guji, Aire, Basar, Baghar, Boal, Ruhi and Katla while the small indigenous and endangered varieties of fish include: Maghi Piali, Pat Piali, Rani, Guchi, thee species of Baim, Mola, Dhela, Batasi, Kajoli, Bele, Pabda, Tengra, Poa, Moa, Kakle, Chanda, Ritha, Taki, Chang, Chapila, Tara, Khorkuti, Shing, Koi, Magur, Shoul, Bajalmuri, Darkina, Potka, Kash Khoyra, Tatkini and Urol. There are also a large number of Hilsha fish as well. Moreover the fishes which were supposed to be extinct from the region for a long time were also seen to roam at the sanctuary. Those are Mash Shillong, Shunghaghu and Rajputi. Muker said, earlier many of the local varieties of fishes were not seen to roam in the river but now those were seen to roam and breed in the sanctuary. Moreover, fishermen were catching many large fishes weighing 6 to 8 kilograms. He further mentioned, the fishermen of the areas were very conscious and they never catch fish inside the sanctuary. Mukta and 40 other young men of the area were working for fish sanctuary without any monetary benefit. They do not have any income from the fish sanctuary. But the department of fisheries under its “Extension of Pischiculture Technology at the Union Levels” programme has allowed them to cultivate fish on floating cage inside the sanctuary. On May 29 last, Omor Faruque Chowdhury, MP, inaugurated fish cultivation in 10 floating cages. Later on, the department of fisheries gave them ten more cages. In each cage 1,000 mono-sex tilapia are being cultivated. Entrepreneurs of the fish sanctuary will reap the profit earned from the cage fish cultivation. State Minister for Fisheries and Water Resources Narayan Chandra Chanda has visited the sanctuary and cage fish cultivation project on December-31, 2o16. Moreover, the sanctuary and the cages have been visited by Professor Dr.Rafiqul Islam of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Fisheries researcher Arif Hossain, teachers and students of department of fisheries of various universities of the country and officials of various government departments of the country. Shamsul Karim, Senior Fisheries Officer of Godagari upazila informed, Padma feeds water in its 27 branches and tributaries and a lot of rare and endangered fish stocks are being released there from this sanctuary in Godagari. Omor Faruque Chowdhury, Member of Parliament of Godagari-Tanore constituency informed, the initiative of Shafiul Alam Mukta to preserve endangered fish stocks is commendable. This sanctuary was contributing positively in breeding and expanding of local rare varieties of fish. For his contribution, floating cages have been given to Mukta and his co-workers. He further said, this project was his dream project. After seven years of effort he was able to bring this project in Godagari. He further said, it was possible to cultivate fish on floating cages in 30 kilometre areas on the river Padma in Godagari upazila. This project will provide employment opportunity for 10,000 people, he mentioned. He added he would take step so that this project could be expanded further in future.