The 58 days of fishing ban, imposed by the government to protect marine fish breeding, has left hundreds of fishermen's families in severe hardship.
According to the restriction, which began on April 15 and will continue until June 11, fishing in deep-sea areas, transportation and sale are prohibited during this period.
As fishing activities remain suspended, income sources for many families have completely stopped, leaving them struggling to survive.
Fishermen also alleged that the absence of clearly demarcated restricted zones often leads to harassment during enforcement drives.
According to local fisheries office sources, more than one lakh fishermen from around 20 fishing ghats in Hatia depend on fishing for their livelihood. However, only 24,020 fishermen are officially registered.
This year, only 4,873 families are expected to receive 77 kilograms of rice each as government assistance during the ban period.
Nolchira area’s fisherman Abdur Rob Majhi said that the prolonged restrictions have made it nearly impossible to feed his family.
“We are surviving through loans and debts. Most of the year remains under one restriction or another. The short fishing period is not enough to recover our expenses,” he said.
At Hatia’s New Sluice Ghat, more than a hundred fishing trawlers were seen lying idle, while fishermen spent hours at the ghat before returning home empty-handed.
Trawler Owners’ Association President Rashed Uddin said the government assistance was inadequate compared to the number of affected fishermen.
“Out of nearly one lakh fishermen, only 24,020 are registered. The remaining fishermen should also be brought under the assistance programme,” he said.
Hatia Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Faizur Rahman said rice distribution would begin once authentic lists of fishermen are received from the union parishads.
He said the process of preparing the lists is underway and the assistance will be distributed within the stipulated time.
MR/AM
