The government's 22-day ban on catching hilsa--in order to ensure its safe spawning during peak breeding period--is scheduled to end at midnight.
A 44035 fishermen in Chandpur are taking preparations to resume catching the national fish in Padma and Meghna rivers once the ban is lifted, reports our local correspondent.
The ban had started on October 4.
According to sources of Chandpur district administration and fisheries department, a committee formed by the task force conducted raids during the ban in the 70km area along the Padma-Meghna to protect mother hilsa.
Along with authorities of fisheries department, district and upazila administrations, coast guard and river police have jointly and separately conducted 278 raids and 95 mobile courts.
During these operations, 108 crore meters of fishing net was seized. Mobile courts have sent 218 fishermen to jail so far. The total amount of fines and auctions has been Tk 19 lakh.
A total of 1,124kg mother hilsa was also seized during the drives. The district fisheries department has so far filed 108 cases.
‘All types of fishing, including hilsa, were prohibited in the Padma-Meghna for safe breeding of hilsa during the ban. Procurement, sale, storage and transportation of hilsa were also prohibited during this time,” District Fisheries Officer Golam Mehedi said.
During the ban, 44,035 fishermen of Chandpur have been given VGF rice under the government's food aid programme, he added.