33 fishermen jailed for defying Hilsha ban in Manikganj

A total of 33 fishermen were jailed and fined, in different drives, for catching Hilsha, the national fish, defying a government ban on its catching, selling and transporting, in Manikganj.

Earlier, the government imposed a ban to ensure the safe spawning of Hilsha fish during its peak breeding period, the Department of Fishery Manikganj District sources said.

"After starting the banning period, a total of 6.04 lakh metres of current net was seized from the Padma and Jamuna rivers, so far," District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Md Saifur Rahman said, adding that Tk 1.4 lakh in fine money was realized from the arrested fishermen for violating the government order.

Sixty kilograms of Hilsha was seized during the last 24 hours, the DFO said, adding: "A total of 61 cases were filed against the fishermen who violated the Hilsha fishing ban."

As part of a regular drive, Deputy Commissioner Rahana Akther also conducted a drive on the Padma and Jamuna rivers. During the drive, 140 kilograms of mother Hilsha and 3.99 lakh metres of current nets were seized.

At that time, a total of Tk 67,000 fine was realized from the fishermen who violated the ban imposed by the government.

The seized current nets were burnt and the fish were distributed among the inmates of government Shishu Paribar and madras students, the DFO added.

Earlier, the government allocated 200 tonnes of rice for 8,000 fishermen families in three upazilas – Harirampur, Shibalaya and Daulatpur – of the district during the Hilsha fishing ban and the allocated rice has already

been distributed among the listed poor fishermen families, Saifur Rahman said.

/KN/