60 maunds of hilsa caught in one trawler, sold for Tk 20 lakh

NOAKHALI, Sept 26: A fishing trawler returned to Chairman Ghat in Hatiya of Noakhali on Thursday morning with around 60 maunds of hilsa caught in the Bay of Bengal.

The fish were sold for around Tk 20 lakh through three rounds of auction at Saiful Fish Arat until noon.
According to locals, fisherman Abdur Rahim Majhi had set out for the sea six days earlier with 18 crew members. After spending six consecutive days at sea, they returned to the ghat with around 8,000 hilsa.

After the fish were unloaded, traders competed in the auction to buy the catch. 

Local fishermen said the catch had encouraged them, as such an abundance of hilsa could increase their income and have a positive impact on local fish markets if it continues.

Noakhali District Fisheries Officer Harun-or-Rashid said hilsa availability in the sea was currently good, allowing fishermen to make satisfactory catches.

“However, to increase hilsa production and breeding, jatka must be protected and fishing must be avoided during the government-imposed fishing bans,” he said.