A joint force of river police, taskforce committee and members of Coast Guard in a drive arrested 12 fishermen from Padma River in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district for catching hilsa defying the 22-day ban imposed by the government.
Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Maria Haque led the drive at Bahir Char Kalabagan area of the upazila from Tuesday midnight till early Wednesday, said Mahbubul Haque, district fisheries officer.
They also seized 6,000 metres of current nets, 10 kgs of hilsa fish from their possession.
Trinath Saha, inspector of Doulatdia River Police, said two separate cases were filed in this connection.
The seized current nets were burnt while the hilsa were distributed among orphans.