Hilsa scarce in Meghna in Raipur despite peak season

The desired hilsa is not seen in the Meghna River in Raipur Upazila of the district. Even in the peak season, fishermen are not catching hilsa in their nets. This is causing fishermen and shopkeepers to spend their time idly. Many are spending their days in despair as there is no hilsa in the river.

Local fishermen say that they are not getting the expected hilsa even after casting their nets in the river. Even after going to the river with difficulty in the sun and rain, they can only catch a few fish, which does not even cover the fuel cost of the boat. As a result, many fishermen are losing interest in going to the river. The usual hustle and bustle is missing at the fishing ghats. The supply of hilsa in the market is almost zero. If there is some, its price is skyrocketing, a kilogram of hilsa is selling at Tk 2,800-3,000.

Fishermen from Meghna Riverbank in Charkachia-Hajimara Village of Charbangshi catch hilsa in the Meghna. This correspondent talked with some fishermen, including Zahir, Kamal Majhi and Haris Khan Majhi there.

Haris Majhi said, “I went to the river four days ago with great hopes. The cost for the four days was Tk 4,000. I got 12 hilsas. I sold it at Tk 2,500. Normally, if I had hilsa, I would have earned at least Tk 15-20 thousand. I have a fisherman card. I got rice during the hilsa fishing ban. But although I was supposed to get 40 kg of rice, I got 35 kg of rice. My family has not been able to survive for two months with that rice.”

The poor condition of hilsa was seen when this correspondent went to Altaf Master and Saju Molla’s fish ghat. Many of the traders say that there is no hilsa in the river at this time due to silt and low tide in the Meghna. Hilsa is being caught quite a bit in Barishal.

Mizan Sardar, 42, of the Chandar Canal area has a family with a wife, a daughter, and a son. He runs a tea shop on the Meghna Riverbank. He said, “If the fishermen have income, we have income. If they do not get fish when they go to the river, then I have to keep the shop closed. We are also dependent on getting fish in the river.”

Laxmipur District Fishermen’s Association former president Mostafa Bepari said, “Fishing in the river was banned for the last two months (March 1 to April 30). The lack of desired hilsa has cast a dark shadow of disappointment on everyone. Moreover, there are a few card-holder fishermen in Raipur. Sadly, there is no allocation for people who depend on the river for their livelihood. If they go to the river and do not get hilsa, their families cannot survive. Fishermen are focusing on other professions because they can’t catch fish.”

Raipur Upazila Fisheries Officer Emdadul Haque said, “During this time, there is a bit less hilsa in the river. Moreover, as the char has risen, there is less water in the river. If it rains, a lot of hilsa will be caught again. Whatever hilsa is caught goes to Dhaka and Chattogram via Chandpur. The fishermen’s desired hopes have not been fulfilled.”

When asked if there was any budget for the fishing community at that time, he said, “In four months, each of about 5,000 fishermen was given 40 kg of rice. In the two-month campaign, 43 cases were filed in 115 mobile courts. A fine of Tk 2.16 lakh was imposed. About 20 lakh meters of illegal nets were destroyed by burning.”