The usually bustling Borostation fishery ghat in Chandpur fell eerily silent on Thursday as a 22-day fishing ban came into effect to protect mother hilsa during their breeding season, leaving the district’s largest fish landing centre and the adjoining Meghna River virtually deserted.22-day hilsa fishing ban begins in Chandpur

A 22-day ban on fishing in a 70-km sanctuary of the Padma-Meghna rivers in Chandpur began on Thursday to protect mother hilsa during their breeding season.

On the first day of the ban, no fishing boats were seen in the Meghna River or at the century-old Borostation fish landing centre in the town.

During a visit to the Borostation area, the confluence of three rivers, Tilabari and the launch terminal around 11:30am to noon, the river was found almost completely empty, with no fishing boats visible as far as the eye could see.

Members of the district fishermen’s organisation were seen travelling on a trawler and using loudspeakers to raise awareness among fishermen about the ban.

The usually busy Borostation fish landing centre was also deserted, with an unusual silence prevailing there.

The area remained active until around 11:30pm on Wednesday, the night before the ban came into effect.

All ice factories in the district have also been closed for the 22-day period on the instructions of the administration, according to the district taskforce.

However, the ban does not apply to farmed fish produced in local ponds, canals, beels, lakes and other water bodies.

Hilsa traders at the landing centre, Nurul Islam, Jalal Haji and Ali Akbar, said they usually remain at the arat from morning until around 10pm.

They came here today as usual, but there is hardly any work, they said.

Around 150 day labourers normally work at the landing centre in different activities, said Alhaj Shabe Barat Sarker, general secretary of the Fish Traders Association.

Several day labourers were seen spending idle time around the landing centre on Thursday.

They don't like staying at home even when there is no work, so we are spending time chatting beside the arat,” said labourers Julhas, Al Amin, Anwar, Zamir and Naser.

Mirza Omar Faruk, senior fisheries officer of Chandpur Sadar upazila, said three teams, comprising the district taskforce, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard, were conducting operations from Shatnal in Matlab North upazila through Chandpur Sadar to Charbhairabi in Haimchar upazila.

The operations will continue throughout the 22-day ban, he said.

The ban began on Oct 8 and will remain in force until midnight on Oct 29.

During the period, catching, buying, selling, storing and transporting all types of fish, including hilsa, in the Padma-Meghna rivers are prohibited.

District administration officials said violators would face imprisonment and fines under the law.