Under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programmes, 462.88 tonnes of rice have been distributed among 2,893 poor and marginal fishermen in three upazilas of the district to abstain them for catching Jatka for four months. Manikganj District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Md. Saifur Rahman told BSS that the government allocated the rice for 2,893 poor and distressed fishermen families in three upazilas of the district to keep them away from Jatka catching. Besides, rice has also been allocated for the people who have been living on the banks of the Padma and Jamuna rivers in Harirampur, Shibalaya and Daulatpur upazilas for four months. During the four months, each of the fishermen's card holder family got 160 Kilograms (Kgs) of rice, 40-Kg per month. The distribution of rice has already been completed in two phases. According to the government decision, the sale, transportation, storing and marketing of Jatka is completely prohibited from November 1 to June 30 every year. As such, the government pro vides humanitarian assistance to fishermen, who refrain from catching Jatka for four months from February to May. The District Fisheries Officer said the rice is distributed among the poor and distressed fishermen families to increase the production of Hilsha fish in the country. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha