MANIKGANJ, Oct, 26, 2023 (BSS) -A total of 41 fishermen were jailed for catching Hilsha defying ban on catching, selling and transporting to ensure safe spawning of the fish during its peak breeding period.

District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Md.Saifur Rahman said a total of 7, 37,000 meters of current net worth about Taka 1,40,14,000 were seized from the river Padma and Jamuna so far during the banning period.

A total of 77 cases were filed against the fishermen who violated the ban of hilsha fishing and 41 fishermen were jailed for the same, the DFO said.

Besides, 60 kilograms (KGs) of Hilsh fishes were seized during the last 24 hours, he said adding that 35,000 meters of current net worth about Tk 7,00,000 were seized during this period.

As part of regular drive, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Manikganj Rahana Akther also conducted a special drive on the Padma and the Jamuna rivers. Besides, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Assistant Commissioners (Land) of Daulatpur, Shibalaya and Harirampur upazilas have been conducting separate drives regularly to save the mother Hilsha on the Padma and the Jamuna.
 
District Fishery Officer Md. Saifur Rahman said the seized hilsha fish has been distributed among the inmates of government Shishu Paribar and madrasa students.

 The seized current nets were burnt. Some of it was also distributed among the ultra poor people who have no capacity to buy hilsha.

The locals said a group of illegal hilsha hunters are active to catch the hilsha when they get chance. The sources said they remain hiding in a safe place and when the patrol boat of the Fishery Department moves to distance locations, they start to catch hilsha.

 Now the movement of hilsha has increased a lot as it is the peak season of breeding.

DFO Saifur Rahman said it’s a vast area of Harirampur, Shibalaya and Daulatpur upazilas of the river Padma and Jamuna.

 The illegal hilsha hunters may take chances to catch hilsha but our team successfully prevented them promptly.

A total of 125 drives and 31 mobile courts were conducted here and would be continued till the last date of the ban.