Bangladesh government has earned 1.36 crore US dollars from exporting 1,352 tonnes of hilsa fish to India this year so far, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said today. Hilsa production has doubled in last 12 years and the rate of production is now 90 percent, he said. The minister revealed this information while speaking at a press briefing on ‘Mother hilsa conservation drive 2022’, held at the Secretariat. Like every year, the government is going to impose a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing – from October 7 to 28, he said. Hilsa catching, selling and transporting will remain prohibited in the 7,000 square km area during the period to ensure the safe spawning of the hugely popular fish during its peak breeding period, he added. “Those found violating the law will face legal action including imprisonment and fine. None will be spared,” said the minister. Besides, the government will take strict action against those involved in creating any obstruction on the development of hilsa resources. During this ban period all activities including catching, selling and transportation of hilsa will be prohibited in 20 districts including Chandpur, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Dhaka, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Rajbari, Manikganj and Munshiganj districts, he said. The ice factories of the districts will be closed as well during the ban, he added. Meanwhile, fishermen of 18 districts including Gopalganj, Narayanganj, narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Tangail, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Sirajganj, Natore, Bagura, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Brahmanbaria, Khulna, Kushtia, Narail and Jamalpur districts will be allowed to catch other fish except hilsa. Mobile courts will conduct drives day and night in all rivers of 38 districts, fisheries ghat, wholesale markets, chain shops and other markets to discourage people from catching and selling hilsa fish, he said. Alongside police, local administration, Navy personnel, Air Force, Coast Guard, Rab, river police and Fisheries Department will jointly conduct the drives.  

Fishermen in Barguna have been delighted after netting huge quantity of hilsa after a 65-day ban imposed by the government ended on Saturday. Huge hilsa netted from the Bay of Bengal and different rivers have flooded the wholesale fish market of the district. On the first day after the ban lifted, the fishermen of Patharghata coast went to rivers and the sea for netting hilsa and brought those to the market as well. Joy spread among the trawler owners, traders and fishermen as the fishing trawlers arrived at the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC)ghat with a load of fish. Read: Hilsa will soon be on platter of common people, says Rezaul During a visit the UNB correspondent found around 20 to 25 fishing trawlers are anchored at Patharghata fish landing centre and workers are picking up fish from the trawlers. Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the District Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, said at least 25 fishing trawlers came to the ghat on the first day and the fishermen are getting good prices. Biplab Kumar Sarkar, marketing officer of BFDC, said that a total of 11,869 kg of fish, including 7,780 kg of hilsa, were sold at Tk 67.56 lakh at  the BFDC fish market on the first day. Out of this, the government received a revenue of Tk 84,460.