Chandpur:A mobile court has sentenced 22 fishermen to 12 days in jail for illegally catching hilsa in the Padma-Meghna river, defying a fishing ban imposed to protect the species during its breeding season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the operation was carried out by authorities from 400 pm to 1000 pm on Sunday across various locations along the Meghna River within Chandpur Sadar upazila. The areas included Anandabazar, Lalpur, Kachikata, Chirachar, Harisabha, Ranagoal, Dokanghar, and Baharia.
During the drive, authorities detained 24 fishermen, with 18 apprehended in Chirachar and six in Dokanghar. Executive magistrates Nahid Iqbal, Md Rahmat Ullah, and Tanvir Rabbi conducted the mobile court proceedings at the Chandpur Coast Guard Station at midnight. Of the detainees, 22 were sentenced to jail, while two minors were released.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of 25,000 metres of banned current nets, six fishing boats, and five kilogrammes of hilsa. Mizanur Rahman, Assistant Upazila Fisheries Officer, confirmed that the seized nets were destroyed in the presence of the executive magistrate, and the confiscated hilsa was distributed to an orphanage. The fishing boats remain in Coast Guard custody. The convicted fishermen hail from Chandpur and the neighbouring Shariatpur district.