Dhaka: Hilsa fishing will remain banned across the country for 22 days from October 8 to 29 to ensure safe breeding of the national fish during its peak spawning season. The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Taskforce Committee on Hilsa Resource Development held at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Ministry of Agriculture today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid chaired the meeting. The decision includes a prohibition on the transportation, storage, marketing, buying, selling, and exchange of hilsa during the ban period. To support fishermen who will refrain from fishing, the government will provide Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) food assistance.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid emphasized the importance of protecting mother hilsa to ensure sustainable production. He instructed authorities to enhance monitoring and conduct operations in key hilsa breeding areas, including Barishal, Chandpur, and Bhola. The minister urged district administrations, River Police, Coast Guard, and the Department of Fisheries to work together to strictly enforce the ban.
Additional resources, such as boats and logistical support, will be allocated to hotspots if necessary. The minister also mandated strict operations to remove illegal fishing nets from breeding grounds, particularly the Chandpur confluence, asserting that no one would be allowed to catch or market hilsa during the ban.
He expressed optimism that continued coordinated efforts by all relevant agencies would lead to increased hilsa production in the next season. State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku highlighted the need for research to identify reasons behind the decline in hilsa production and to address weaknesses in current practices.
Tuku stressed the importance of curbing the use of illegal fishing nets and taking steps to stop their production and sale. He also called on fishermen's representatives to educate fishing communities against purchasing prohibited nets. A coordinated action plan will be developed to protect hilsa as a national resource and Geographical Indication (GI) product and to boost its production.
The meeting was attended by Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Chairman Md Mir Hossain, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak, and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Director General Dr Md Latiful Islam, among others.