Fishing ban imposed in Padma-Meghna to protect Hilsa
The government has imposed a two-month ban on all types of fishing, including Hilsa, in the Padma-Meghna rivers in Chandpur district to boost Hilsa production and conserve Jatka, the juvenile form of the national fish. The restriction will come into effect from 12:00 midnight on Saturday [February 28] and continue through March and April. During this period, fishing, buying, selling, transporting, and storing Hilsa fish will be strictly prohibited. Authorities have warned that legal action will be taken against anyone violating the ban. According to the District Fisheries Department, a 70-kilometer river sanctuary has been declared from Shatanol in Matlab Uttar upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila for protecting Jatka. Around 47,000 registered fishermen in the area will abstain from fishing during the ban.
Of them, 39,400 fishermen will receive government assistance under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme. Each eligible fisherman will be provided with 120 kilograms of rice over four months from February to May. However, some fishermen expressed concerns about the adequacy of the support. Speaking in the Bahria Meghna coastal fishing village in Lakshmipur Model Union under Sadar upazila, fisherman Alamgir Hossain said they have kept their boats and nets ashore during the ban but are struggling to support their families with the limited food aid. Fishermen Ali Akkas Majhi and Yakub Ali Majhi echoed similar concerns, saying that rice alone is insufficient to meet household expenses, including children's education and loan repayments.
They urged the government to consider additional financial assistance to ensure their livelihoods during the ban period. Chandpur Sadar upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said that district and upazila task forces will strictly enforce the government's directive within the sanctuary area. Mobile courts will conduct drives against those found catching Jatka in violation of the law. Superintendent of Police of the Naval Police Chandpur Region, Syed Moshfiqur Rahman, said the Naval Police will remain active from March 1 to April 30 to prevent illegal fishing. Legal action will be taken under the Fisheries Act against anyone found catching Jatka within the naval jurisdiction, he added.
Deputy Commissioner and President of the District Task Force Committee Md. Nazmul Islam Sarkar said Jatka conservation is a key initiative to ensure sustainable Hilsa production. He urged all stakeholders to cooperate in the national interest by refraining from illegal fishing. Hilsa researcher Dr. Anisur Rahman emphasized the importance of collective efforts to protect Jatka, noting that "Today's Jatka is tomorrow's Hilsa." Preserving juvenile fish will ultimately benefit both the country and the fishing community, he added.
