United News of Bangladesh

After a 22-day government ban, the Meghna and Padma rivers are set to come alive once again with the sound of boats and nets being cast, as nearly 43,000 fishermen in Chandpur prepare to resume hilsa fishing from Saturday midnight. The annual restriction on catching, selling and transporting hilsa, aimed at protecting mother fish during the breeding season — will officially end at 12 am, allowing fishermen to return to their traditional livelihood after weeks of hardship. According to Mirza Omar Faruk, Senior Fisheries Officer of Chandpur Sadar upazila, authorities maintained strict monitoring since the beginning of this year’s campaign. Bangladesh moves to curb illegal hilsa fishing as Indian fishermen enter waters: Adviser “The district and upazila task forces were active from day one to ensure that the ban was properly enforced,” he said. Assistant District Fisheries Officer Farhana Akter Ruma said that extensive drives were conducted across the rivers throughout the 22-day ban period to safeguard mother hilsa. Joint forces comprising the district and upazila administrations, fisheries department, river police, coast guard and the district task force patrolled the 70-kilometre sanctuary area day and night. During this time, 64 mobile courts were conducted — 32 in Sadar upazila, 20 in Haimchar, and 12 in Matlab North and South. 15 injured as fisheries dept, law enforcement officials attacked during anti-hilsa drive in Barishal Nearly two metric tonnes of mother hilsa were seized during the drives, along with over 5.5 lakh metres of illegal fishing nets worth about Tk 1.37 crore, which were later destroyed. In total, 77 cases were filed and 119 fishermen were jailed for violating the government ban. Authorities also collected Tk 50,000 in fines from offenders, while the confiscated fish were distributed among orphans and the poor. To support those affected by the ban, the government distributed 25 kilograms of rice to each unemployed fisherman as temporary relief. Many fishermen have, however, voiced concerns that this aid was insufficient. Talking to UNB on Saturday, fishermen including Rahim Majhi, Sakib Majhi and Omar Ali from Sadar upazila, and traders such as Sirajul Islam, Sheikh Amir Hossain, Yunus Miji and Delwar Hossain Mia from Harina Ferry Ghat, said that rice alone was not enough to sustain their families. “The government should provide cash support along with rice,” said Rahim Majhi. “We eat a lot of rice — 25 kilos doesn’t last long. If the money was sent to our mobile accounts, there would be no irregularities," he said.  

A 22-day ban on catching hilsa fishing began across the country on Thursday midnight. To ensure the safe spawning of the national fish of Bangladesh during its peak breeding period, the government has imposed the ban in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary. The ban will remain in place till November 2. Fishermen will not be allowed to catch fish in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary from Shatnal in Matlab Uttar to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur district. Hilsa price high due to profit-mongers’ greed: Fisheries Minister Local administration has provided 25 kg of rice to each fisherman during the hilsa fishing ban and distribution of rice has begun in different parts of the district. The local administrations also held an awareness programme in the coastal areas of the district. Fishermen were seen passing an idle time and some were seen repairing their nets. Golam Mehedi Hasan, district fisheries officer, said the rice distribution programme among 43,772 registered fishermen will end within one or two days. During this period, the taskforce will conduct drives round the clock to check violation of the ban while the mobile court will conduct drives alongside it. Demand for salted hilsa up in north Bangladesh He also hoped that the implementation of the programme will play a role in increasing the production of hilsa. Meanwhile, Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan said the taskforce committee will strictly perform their duties and temporary camps will be set up in Matlab North, Sadar and Haimchar upazilas of the district. 22-day ban on hilsa fishing to begin on Oct 12: Fisheries Minister  

The government has imposed a 65-day ban on fishing off the Bay of Bengal to try and preserve the fish stock and boost their breeding.  The ban – lasting from May 20 until July 23 – is timed to occur with the breeding season. All types of fishing vessels will be covered by the restriction. Also read: Bay fishing ban made 70pc fishermen jobless: COAST The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a notification in this connection on April 13 considering the breeding of sea fishes and their conservation. Also read: 12 fishermen jailed for violating hilsa fishing ban Fishing in all coastal countries across the remain prohibited for two to three months during the breeding season as it is essential to ensure a safe environment for mother fishes during this time.

More than 5,000 fishermen were jailed and illegal nets worth Tk243 crore were seized during the 22-day Hilsa fishing ban.

Twelve fishermen were jailed for various terms in Chandpur on Tuesday for catching hilsa flouting the ongoing fishing ban.

The government has allocated 10,566.84 tonnes of VGF rice for fishermen during the upcoming hilsa fishing ban from Oct 14 to Nov 4.

Two UP chairman and members were suspended on Tuesday on charge of embezzling rice.