In Rajbari’s Goalanda Upazila, the local administration seized 1,00,000 metres of Current Jal and 200 kg Hilsa from 11 fishermen. A mobile court sentenced them to 14 days in jail.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rubayet Hayad Shiplu said they conducted a drive in the Padma River at Daulatdia, Debagram, and Ujanchar unions between Thursday noon and early Friday.
“The fishermen were punished for illegally catching Hilsa,” he said.
In Shariatpur, police detained 16 fishermen from the Sadar upazila.
UNO Md Mahabubur Rahman Sheikh said 14 fishermen were sentenced to jail and two others were fined for defying the Hilsa ban.
Ten maunds (roughly 373 kgs) of mother Hilsa were recovered from their possession, he added.
In Chandpur, a mobile court sentenced 18 fishermen to one year in jail and fined three others Tk 5,000 each for defying the Hilsa ban in the Sadar and Haimchar Upazilas.
According to district fisheries office, members of river police and Coast Guard conducted drives in Meghna River from dawn to dusk on Friday and detained the fishermen.
They were later jailed and fined by an executive magistrate.
Meanwhile, a temporary police outpost was set at Rajrajeshwar of Sadar upazila to prevent mother Hilsa netting.
The government imposed a 22-day ban on catching, selling, storing and transporting Hilsa from October 9 to 31 to ensure safe spawning of the fish.