Lakshmipur:The 22-day nationwide ban on hilsa fishing will come to an end at midnight tomorrow. This ban was initially enforced on October 8 across major rivers in 38 districts to protect mother hilsa during their breeding season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ban strictly prohibited the catching, transportation, storage, marketing, buying, selling, and exchanging of hilsa under government directives. The restrictions were put in place as fishermen faced challenges with poor catches, financial hardships, and mounting debt following a disappointing hilsa season from July to October.
Experts have pointed to water pollution, river siltation, and overfishing as contributing factors to the decline in hilsa production. In response to the ban, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced that each of the 647,690 fishing families in the affected districts would receive 25 kg of rice.
The decision to impose the ban was made on September 15 during a meeting of the National Taskforce Committee on Hilsa Resource Development, aimed at implementing the Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2026. Key enforcement measures included collaboration between district administrations, the Bangladesh Coast Guard, and the Department of Fisheries, with additional vessels and logistical support deployed as needed.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku emphasized the importance of research to identify the reasons behind the declining hilsa production, as well as the need to curb the production and sale of prohibited fishing nets.
In Lakshmipur, approximately 54,000 fishermen are preparing to resume fishing in the Meghna River. District Fisheries Officer Md Jasim Uddin reported that the enforcement of the ban was successful and expects an increase in fish production compared to the previous year.
During the first 20 days of the ban, authorities conducted 229 drives and mobile court operations, resulting in the arrest of 150 fishermen. Out of these, 73 were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment, while 77 fishermen were fined a total of Tk 1.95 lakh. Additionally, 100 cases were filed, and 4.5 tonnes of hilsa and 20 boats were seized. The confiscated hilsa were later distributed to orphanages. Furthermore, 3.7 million metres of current nets were seized during these operations.
From October 8 to October 27, a task force committee led by the Department of Fisheries conducted monitoring activities along the Meghna River, from Alexander in Ramgati to Hajimara in Raipur. Fishermen Shafik Ullah and Mana Majhi of Motirhat fishing ghat stated that they adhered to the government's ban and did not fish during the period, noting that enforcement was stricter this year compared to last year.