Fishermen and others involved in the sector in Barishal are urging the government to delay the seasonal 22-day ban on hilsa fishing, set to be enforced from October 12, by at least a month.
The Barishal Sadar Fish Merchants Association arranged a press conference at a hotel on Monday, where they formally voiced the demand.
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The association’s General Secretary Nirbo Hossain Tutul read out a written statement on the occasion.
Tutul said due to various reasons including climate change, the breeding period of the hilsa has also changed. The campaign to protect the mother hilsa is supposed to start from October 12, but until now "there are no eggs in the belly of hilsa," he said.
He claimed that this year has been the worst in 10 years for the fishing industry, and said the seasonal bans imposed by the government in recent years has hurt business.
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"We are requesting the government's fisheries department to consider this financial loss and request that the government's ban starting on October 12 should start one month later i.e. from November 12," Tutul said.
He also noted that the government's hilsa export program will continue until October 30. If there is a ban, there will be problems in the export of fish.
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"Therefore, through this press conference, we are making an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister to postpone the ban," the statement urged.