A mobile court on Tuesday sentenced eight fishermen to 14 days in jail each, for catching the much-coveted Hilsa fish in defiance of a temporary, three-week ban imposed by the government – itself aimed at replenishing Hilsa stocks and making livelihoods around its survival more sustainable. the Padma and Meghan rivers in the district.
The court led by Hajiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rashedul Islam also released two minor boys after taking a bond from their family in this connection, ARM Jahid Hasan, executive magistrate of the district administration, told reporters.
The convicts are Mohammad Jahangir, Yakub Bepari, Nurul Islam, Golam Mostafa, Md Rubel, Mahbub Bepari, Sajal Chandra Das and Nazrul Islam.
Read: Banned fishing nets worth over Tk 9 cr seized in Chandpur
Magistrate Jahid Hasan said a joint team comprising members of the district fisheries office, river police and the Coast Guard conducted raids in different spots of the Padma and Meghna rivers, both sanctuaries of the King of Fish, as Hilsa is known throughout Bengal, including India’s West Bengal.
Eventually police detained 10 individuals who were caught red-handed in the act of fishing with current nets.
Some 10,000 metres of fishing nets and an engine-run boat were also seized during the drive, he said, adding that the nets were later burnt.
Besides, illegally caught fish weighing over 13kg were distributed among the distressed and orphans, added the magistrate.