Dhaka: As part of the nationwide “Maa Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2025,” the River Police have arrested 1,275 individuals and seized approximately 19 crore meters of illegal fishing nets, along with a substantial quantity of fish and several hundred fishing boats over the past 12 days.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the arrests were made from October 4 onwards, with individuals apprehended on charges of illegal fishing despite an existing ban. The River Police’s press release highlighted the significant seizures, which included around 19 crore meters of illegal fishing nets, 15,796 kg of fish, and 506 boats during the ongoing operations.
The River Police have been actively conducting operations through 421 mobile courts nationwide during this period, resulting in 278 cases being filed. The seized illegal fishing nets were destroyed, and the confiscated fish were distributed to local orphanages.
This initiative is part of a government-imposed ban on the transportation, storage, purchase, sale, processing, marketing, and exchange of Hilsha fish from October 4 to October 25, in an effort to support the Maa Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2025.