16 jailed for defying hilsa-fishing ban in two districts

Sixteen people were jailed to various terms and fined to various amounts for violating hilsa fishing ban in Rajbari District and Lalmohan Upazila of Bhola District in three days.

RAJBARI: Twelve people were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment and fined for catching mother hilsa in violation of a government fishing ban during an enforcement drive on the Padma River in the district. Authorities also burned and destroyed 25,000 metres of illegal fishing nets and sold three boats at auction.

The joint operation was conducted by the district administration and the District Department of Fisheries, with support from law enforcement agencies, from 4 pm on Tuesday to 1 am on Wednesday. Executive Magistrates Dr Md Ashikuzzaman and SM Raihanul Islam led the operation.

Authorities took legal action against those involved in catching mother hilsa in defiance of the ban. Seized illegal nets were burned, and three boats used in the fishing activities were sold at auction.

The Rajbari District Administration said such drives would continue regularly to protect hilsa during their breeding season, boost production and conserve the country’s fisheries resources.

LALMOHAN, BHOLA: Four fishermen have been sentenced to seven days in jail without hard labour for violating a government ban on fishing mother hilsa in Lalmohan Upazila of the district.

Executive Magistrate and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Sifat Bin Sadek handed down the sentences during a mobile court on Monday night on the Upazila Parishad premises.

The convicted fishermen are Ali Azgar, 40, Lokman Hossain, 40, Mohammad Jahangir, 40, and Mohammad Zakir, 35. All are residents of the Kachuakhali area in Ward No. 2 of Paschim Char Umed Union.

Earlier on Monday, the Department of Fisheries and the Coast Guard conducted a joint operation on the Tentulia River, from noon until evening, to protect mother hilsa during the breeding season. 

The four fishermen were detained on allegations of fishing in violation of the ban. Authorities also seized 5,000 metres of illegal current nets and burned them in public.

Upazila Fisheries Officer Ali Ahmad Akhand said authorities remained vigilant to ensure the safe reproduction of mother hilsa.

“We are conducting regular river operations to enforce the 22-day fishing ban. Strict action will be taken against anyone who violates the law and goes fishing during this period,” he said.