Patuakhali: A mobile court has sentenced two fishermen to 16 days’ imprisonment each for catching Hilsa with electric nets in the Payra River in Dumki upazila here, violating the government’s official ban. The sentence was handed down on Friday morning at the office of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) by Executive Magistrate Abuzar Md. Ejazul Haque.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the convicts are Jamal Talukdar, 50, son of the late Chandu Talukdar of Jhatra village in Angaria union, and Md. Kausar Haoladar, 30, son of the late Barek Hawladar of the same village. As the government-imposed national ban on Hilsa fishing is ongoing, a special team from the Department of Fisheries conducted a drive on Thursday night in the Payra River near Baherchar.
During the drive, the two fishermen were found catching Hilsa fish using electric nets and were caught red-handed. A boat and a large quantity of electric nets used in the fishing were seized. The arrested fishermen were presented before the mobile court at the UNO’s office this morning, where the sentence was handed over.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dumki Police Station Md. Zakir Hossain confirmed the incident and stated that preparations are underway to send the convicts to Patuakhali district jail.