Bay of Bengal: Fishermen and traders along the coastal belt expressed their happiness today as the hilsa fishing season commenced in the Bay of Bengal. This follows the conclusion of a 58-day ban on fishing in the rivers and sea across the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, fishermen embarked on their journey to the Bay of Bengal and adjacent rivers near the Sundarbans last midnight. The resumption of hilsa fishing has brought much joy, with plenty of fish being netted, leading to a sense of celebration among the fishing community.
Officials from the Department of Fisheries (DoF) reported that over 50,000 fishermen from coastal districts have ventured into the Bay of Bengal to catch hilsa after the lengthy prohibition. The government had imposed the ban from April 15, 2025, to enhance hilsa production by protecting mother fish during their peak breeding season.
The Department of Fisheries, along with the Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, local administrations, and law enforcement agencies, conducted operations to enforce the ban. Executive magistrates conducted mobile courts, penalizing violators during this period.
According to DoF, fishermen were busy preparing their boats with necessary supplies like fishing nets, ice, and fuel in coastal areas such as Shoronkhola, Barguna, Patharghata, and Mongla on Wednesday afternoon.
"We could not fish for the last 58 days due to the restrictions. We managed our livelihood with government food support," said Alif Mia, a fisherman from Chila, Mongla Upazila in Bagerhat.
Mahmud Ali, a leader of the Barguna Fishing Trawler Owners Association, noted that many boats from Patharghata have already set sail to the Bay. Abdus Salam, a fisherman from the Bangladesh Fish Development Corporation at Pathorghata in Barguna district, expressed anticipation for the hilsa sales following the trawlers' return.
Md Abdul Zalil, a local fisherman, shared that the lifting of the ban has brought relief and happiness to all involved in the hilsa fishing industry. Trawler owner Md Salim Akon anticipated an abundant catch due to recent heavy rainfall in coastal areas.
Md Afzal, another trawler owner, confirmed that his fishermen started catching hilsa by noon. Local fishermen like Sagir Hossain and Abdus Salam, who faced financial struggles during the ban, voiced concerns about the ban's duration and called for its reduction.
Md Abul Hossain, President of the Shoronkhola Fishing Trawler Owners Association, acknowledged the hardships faced by fishermen over the past two months, many of whom had to take loans. He expressed gratitude to the interim government for aligning the hilsa ban period with India, meeting the demands of fishermen and traders.
Hossain also pointed out that buyers from various regions, including Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Bogura, are arriving at fish landing stations in Patuakhali, Bagerhat, and Barguna districts, eager to purchase hilsa.