Fishers urged to help protect mother hilsa

SHIBCHAR, MADARIPUR, Oct 8: State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has urged fishermen not to cast nets in rivers for the next 22 days to protect mother hilsa and called on people from all sections of society to cooperate with the government’s conservation drive.

He made the call while distributing VGF rice among 151 fishing families living along the Padma River in Shibchar Upazila on Thursday.
 
Each family received 25kg of rice under the government’s humanitarian assistance programme for fishermen affected by the hilsa conservation drive.

The programme was organised by the upazila administration and fisheries department at the field of Char Janajat Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury High School in Kawrakandi area of Madborchar Union on Thursday morning.

Addressing the event, the state minister stressed the importance of protecting hilsa breeding.

“If a small hilsa gets the opportunity to lay eggs, it can potentially produce around two lakh fish. A large hilsa can produce more than 20 lakh eggs,” he said.

He urged fishermen to cooperate with the 22-day fishing ban.

“The government is providing 25kg of rice per person during these 22 days. You may face some hardship during this period, but the hilsa in the rivers will be yours later, and you will be able to catch them,” he said.

Tuku also urged the administration, political leaders and people from all sections of society to come forward to protect mother hilsa.

Madaripur-1 MP Saeed Uddin Ahmed Hanjala and Fisheries Department Director General (acting) Dr Md Khaled Kanak were present as special guests.

Madaripur Deputy Commissioner Marzina Akter chaired the programme.