The Fisheries Department seized around 1,200 kilograms of jatka (young hilsa) from two passenger launches in the Meghna River at Matlab Uttar upazila on early Monday.
The operation was conducted from 1 am to 4 am, led by Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das.
Coast Guard Mohonpur Outpost Contingent Commander Md Nasim and Upazila Fisheries Field Assistant Mesharaf Hossain were also present.
Acting on a tip-off, the team recovered the jatka from two Dhaka-bound launches from Barishal — Tasrif-4 and Mitali-4.
The seized jatka were later distributed among local orphanages and poor families by noon.
Senior Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das told UNB that the ongoing drive to protect hilsa, a national resource, will continue from November 1 to June 30.
8-month ban on Jatka fishing begins
“Preserving jatka is essential. We are conducting regular drives both day and night to stop illegal catching, transporting, or selling of jatka during the ban period,” he said.
He added that public awareness is vital.
“The main goal of the drive is not punishment, but to protect this valuable resource,” he said.