A mobile court has sentenced five fishermen to jail for catching jatka in violation of a government ban in the Meghna River in Chandpur Sadar upazila.

During the drive, three fishing boats and about 5,000 metres of illegal current nets were seized.

The mobile court was conducted on Monday afternoon at the Coast Guard Chandpur Station by Executive Magistrate Tanvir Rabbi of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Sadar upazila Bappi Dutta Rony.

The convicted fishermen were identified as Hazrat Ali, 30, Shuvo Patwari, 18, Zainal Uddin, 75, Mecher Uddin, 40, all from Chandpur Sadar, and Abdul, 24, from Matlab North upazila.

Among them, Abdul was sentenced to 15 days’ imprisonment, while the other four were each given seven days’ jail and fined Tk 200.

Sadar Upazila Assistant Fisheries Officer Md Mizanur Rahman confirmed this.

He said the drive was conducted from 12pm to 5pm in several areas along the Meghna River, including Anand Bazar, Shafarmali, Rajrajeshwar, Mini Cox’s Bazar, Charmukundi and Boharia.

The operation was jointly carried out by the upazila administration, the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Coast Guard and river police.

During the drive, the fishermen were detained along with three boats from the Meghna River near Gazirtek and Charmukundi areas under Rajrajeshwar union.

The seized nets were later destroyed, while the boats have been kept in the custody of the Coast Guard, the official added.