3-week fishing ban to protect hilsa breeding comes into force

A 22-day ban on fishing in the Meghna and Tetulia rivers of Bhola and the Jamuna River in Sirajganj has come into effect, starting from midnight on October 13 and lasting until November 3. This measure aims to ensure the safe breeding of the hilsa fish. To enforce the ban, the Department of Fisheries, along with law enforcement agencies, has initiated patrol operations across the rivers.

On Sunday, the first day of the ban, eight fishermen were arrested in the early morning while illegally fishing in the Meghna River in Charfashion upazila. Authorities, including the Fisheries Department, upazila administration, and police, seized a large amount of fishing nets during the operation.

Bishwajit Kumar Deb,fisheries officer of Bhola , said that the eight detained fishermen were fined Tk 30 thousands by a mobile court. Additionally, 8,000 meters of illegal fishing nets were confiscated and destroyed by fire, while 80 kilograms of illegally caught fish were distributed to local orphanages.

He further mentioned that 17 teams from the Fisheries Department are continuously patrolling the rivers. They are being supported by the Naval Police, Coast Guard, and Navy. Executive magistrates are also conducting regular operations. In a supportive move, letters have been sent to banks and financial institutions, requesting them to defer loan installments for affected fishermen. Some unions have already distributed VGF rice to fishermen in need.

In Sirajganj’s Chauhali upazila, the operation to conserve hilsa has also begun in the Jamuna River. Since midnight on Saturday, officials from the local administration, the Department of Fisheries, the Naval Police, and members of the Task Force Committee have been patrolling the river.

Tanvir Hasan Majumder, the Upazila Fisheries Officer of Chauhali, confirmed that patrol activities have started to protect hilsa, although no fishermen were found on the river during the operation.