The government has imposed a two-month ban on catching all types of fish, including hilsa, in the Padma River and Meghna River from Saturday midnight to boost hilsa production and conserve jatka.

The restriction will remain in force from March 1 to April 30, during which fishing, sale, transport and stocking of fish in the designated river stretches are prohibited. Authorities warned that strict action will be taken against violators.

District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Fakhrul Islam said a nearly 70-km sanctuary has been declared from Satnal in Matlab Uttar upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar via Chandpur Sadar. About 47,000 registered fishermen will refrain from fishing during the period.

To support affected fishermen, 39,400 of them will receive VGF rice assistance—40 kg per month for four months (February to May), totaling 160 kg per person.

However, several fishermen along the Meghna riverbanks said the food aid is insufficient to run their families and urged the government to provide additional cash support during the ban period.

Chandpur Sadar Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said district and upazila task forces will enforce the ban and conduct mobile courts against illegal jatka fishing.

Naval Police SP Syed Mosfiqul Rahman said river patrols will remain active throughout the ban, and legal action will be taken under fisheries laws against offenders.

District Administrator Md Nazmul Islam Sarker called on all stakeholders to cooperate in conserving jatka, while hilsa researcher Dr Anisur Rahman stressed that protecting jatka today will ensure higher hilsa production in the future.