BHOLA, Feb 27, 2025 – In a bid to conserve Jatka or juveniles of hilsa, the government has imposed a two-month ban, effective from tomorrow (February 28), on all kinds of fishing in the Meghna and Tentulia rivers of Bhola.

This ban, covering a 190-kilometer stretch, aims to protect hilsa sanctuaries and conserve juvenile hilsa, also known as Jatka.

Those who will defy the ban will face penalties of 1 to 2 years in prison, a fine up to Tk 5,000, or both. The prohibition applies to two key areas: a 90-kilometer stretch from the Elisha section of the Meghna River to Char Pial, and a 100-kilometer stretch from Bheduria in Bhola to Char Rustam in Patuakhali.

The fisheries department has set up a monitoring taskforce and held awareness meetings to enforce the ban.

In response to the impact on local fishermen, the government will distribute 7,168 metric tons of rice to 89,600 fishermen during the ban. Despite this, many fishermen are concerned about the fairness of the rice distribution and their livelihoods during the unemployment period.

Emdad Hossain Kabir, the outgoing chairman of Dhania Union, emphasized the importance of transparency, saying, “Only genuine fishermen should be included in the list to ensure effective aid distribution.”

Fisheries Advisor Farida Akhtar assured that no political influence would affect the registration process and stated, “We are working to increase rice allocation to 40 or 50 kg per fisherman and include pulses and oil as well.”

District Fisheries Officer Biswajit Kumar Deb confirmed that strict monitoring would be in place to ensure transparency and fairness in aid distribution. He reiterated that any violation of the fishing ban would result in legal action.

The ban is a key effort to safeguard the Hilsa population, ensuring sustainable fishing practices in the region.