MANIKGANJ, Oct, 23, 2023 (BSS) - A total of 33 fishermen of the district were

jailed and fined, in different drives, for catching Hilsha, the national
fish, defying a government ban on its catching, selling and transporting.

Earlier, the government has imposed the 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 meters of current
net seized from the Padma and Jamuna rivers, so far," District Fisheries
Officer (DFO) Md Saifur Rahman said, adding that Taka 1.4 lakh fine money
were realized from the arrested fishermen for violating the government order.

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

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

At that time, Taka 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.