LALMOHAN, BHOLA, Mar 2: A two-month fishing ban has been imposed on the Meghna and Tentulia rivers to conserve juvenile hilsa (Jatka) and boost fish production. The ban, which started on March 1, will continue until midnight on April 30. During this period, fishing, marketing, buying, selling, and storing fish are strictly prohibited.
While the measure aims to protect fish stocks, it has left thousands of local fishermen unemployed. The fishermen are urging authorities to temporarily suspend NGO loan collections during the ban and ensure timely delivery of government-provided rice allocations.
According to the Upazila Fisheries Office, a 190-kilometre stretch from Char Elisha to Char Piyal along the Meghna and from Bheduria to Char Rustum along the Tentulia has been declared a sanctuary. Registered fishermen in Lalmohan total 24,806, with several thousand more unregistered. These fishermen typically access the rivers through at least 27 small and large fish landing ghats across the upazila.
Fishermen from Batirkhal fish landing ghat in Dhuli Gouranagar Union, including Md Nur Islam, Hadis Bepari, and Md Abdul Momin, said, "We will try our best to follow the government's decision, but fishing is our livelihood. During the ban, we are completely unemployed. The government rice allocation is insufficient and not delivered on time. Without income, we also cannot pay NGO installments. Our demand is that NGOs suspend collections during the ban and authorities ensure timely rice distribution."
Upazila Fisheries Officer Ali Ahmed Akhand said, "The ban on all types of fishing in the Meghna and Tentulia rivers during March and April is essential to protect Jatka and increase hilsa production. Awareness campaigns are ongoing to ensure compliance."
He added that discussions are underway to halt NGO installment collections during the ban. "We are also coordinating to ensure that registered fishermen receive their allocated rice quickly. Soon, all registered fishermen will get their designated rice allotment," he said.
The ban has already left many fishermen idle, spending their days mending nets and waiting for support from the government and NGOs.
