More than 50,000 fishermen in Chandpur are set to return to the Padma River and Meghna River as a two-month government-imposed fishing ban aimed at protecting jatka ends tonight.
The restriction, enforced throughout March and April, covered a 70-kilometre sanctuary in the Padma-Meghna river system and prohibited all types of fishing, including hilsa, under the government’s conservation programme.
With the ban lifting at midnight, fishermen will resume operations from early Friday. Fishing villages along the Meghna riverbank are now abuzz with activity, as nets are repaired, boats refurbished, and final preparations completed.
Visits to several villages showed a busy atmosphere as fishermen repaired nets, fixed boats, and prepared to set sail.
District Fisheries Survey Officer Farhana Akter Ruma said the successful implementation of the jatka conservation programme this year is expected to significantly increase hilsa production.
Fishermen from different areas, including Harisova of Puran Bazar, West Sriramdi, Ranagoyal, Dokanghar, Hanarchar, Baharia, Ibrahimpur, Harina Ghat, Ananda Bazar and Bishnupur in Chandpur Sadar upazila, were seen making final preparations on Wednesday afternoon.
Fishermen, including Md Ismail Khan and Mohammad Hosen from Ananda Bazar, said they struggled to support their families during the ban period, but complied with it in the greater interest. “Now we have repaired our nets and boats and are ready to return to the river,” one of them said.
From Baharia and Lakshmipur areas, fishermen Khorshed Alam and Anwar Hossain Gazi said they had to take loans of around Tk 30,000 to repair boats and nets. “If we can catch hilsa now, we will be able to repay the loan instalments and manage our families,” Khorshed said.
Hilsa researcher Dr Anisur Rahman told UNB that today’s jatka will become tomorrow’s large hilsa.
He said if 70-80 percent of jatka can be protected, hilsa production could increase by around 600,000 metric tonnes in the future.
Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruq said authorities conducted round-the-clock drives in the 70-kilometre sanctuary area of the Padma-Meghna rivers during the two-month ban. Around 200 fishermen were jailed or fined for violating the restrictions.
He added that the enforcement helped protect jatka, which is expected to boost national hilsa production in the coming years.