2 fishers jailed for violating fishing ban

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Oct 16: A mobile court sentenced two fishermen to 16 days in jail each and fined two others Tk 5,000 each for violating a government ban on hilsa fishing in the Meghna River near Betua in Char Fasson Upazila of the district on Wednesday. Two minors were released after signing written undertakings.

Six fishermen were detained during an operation under the 2026 Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign. Authorities seized a boat, 18,000 metres of illegal fishing nets and 15 kg of fish. The boat was later released after an undertaking, the nets were burnt, and the fish were donated to a local orphanage.

Char Fasson Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroze led the operation, accompanied by Senior Fisheries Officer Jayanta Kumar Apu and police personnel.

Local authorities said regular enforcement drives were being conducted to protect hilsa during their breeding season and boost production. Officials warned that legal action would be taken against anyone caught catching, transporting, storing or selling hilsa in violation of the ban.