Prices of hilsa have shot up again in Chandpur markets as a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing is set to begin at midnight on Saturday, to ensure safe spawning in the freshwaters of the Padma and Meghna rivers. The ban has sparked a rush at Chandpur’s Boro Station fish ghat, one of the country’s largest fish landing centers, where buyers have been scrambling to purchase the priced fish before the restriction takes effect. The government ban, aimed at protecting hilsa during its spawning season, will remain in place until November 3. Traders said hilsa weighing 1 to 1.2 kilograms is being sold for Tk2,800- 3,000 per kilogram, an all-time high. The price of smaller hilsa, weighing 500 to 900 grams, ranges from Tk 1,200 - 2,000 per kilogram. 479 MT hilsa exported to India through Benapole “Prices were lower just a week ago. Now, even though I want to buy, I can’t because the prices have gone up by Tk500 - 700 per kilogram, said Solaiman, a buyer from Ashikati area. At the fish landing centre, local fishermen were seen bringing in fresh hilsa, some from nearby areas, while others arrive by truck from Noakhali.  Omar Faruq, manager of the Kalu Bhuiyan fish shop, said “The upcoming 22-day ban is the reason. The number of retail buyers far outnumbers the fish supply here.”  With the ban approaching, some tourists have also flocked to the  landing centre, turning their fish-buying trip into a family outing, Faruq adding the market has been busy from morning till night, and on Fridays, many tourists were spotted buying hilsa and having it fried at nearby restaurants. 479 MT hilsa exported to India through Benapole Veteran fish traders like Nurul Islam and Mostafa Khan said they haven’t seen prices this high in over 50 years. In the city’s busiest markets, including Biponibagh and Palbazar, the story is the same.  Chandpur District Fisheries Officer Golam Mehedi Hasan explained the practice of imposing the ban. "Hilsa migrate from the sea to freshwater during this time to spawn. The 22-day ban covers a 70-kilometer stretch from Shatnol in Matlab Uttar Upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar Upazila." All fishing, transporting, selling, and stocking of hilsa in this area will be prohibited durning the ban. Despite increased production—reaching 571,342 tonnes in the fiscal year 2022-23, up from 566,593 tonnes the previous year—the demand for hilsa remains high in Bangladesh, keeping prices elevated in the local market. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh exported 664.86 tonnes of hilsa to India, generating $7.71 million, according to the Department of Fisheries. The previous year saw exports of 1,376.42 tonnes of hilsa, worth $13.68 million. Read more: 10 Tasty Ilish Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen

The government-imposed two-month ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal started from today. The ban -- to ensure smooth breeding of fish -- will remain in force in the Bay of Bengal till July 23 and in the Sundarbans till August 31. According to the notice issued by the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, the catching of all kinds of fish through water vessels and boats is restricted till July 23. Also read: 65-day fishing ban in Bay begins from Wednesday The government will provide 86 kg of rice to 12,000 fishermen each in Bagerhat district in two phases during this period. Besides, all kinds of tourist vessels will not be allowed in the Sundarbans from June 1 to August 31 for ensuring safe breeding of the fish in the rivers and canals of the forest. Mohammad Belayet Hossain, Forest Divisional Officer of Sundarbans East Zone, said the government earlier imposed a three-month ban on tourism in the Sundarbans and as per the decision of the government, no tourists will be allowed in the Sundarbans during this period for ensuring safe breeding of wild animals. Bagerhat District Fisheries Officer ASM Russel, said the Fisheries Department will be strict in ensuring enforcement of this ban. Besides, drives will be conducted along the marine boundary, he said.  

The forest department has announced a three-month ban on tourism and fishing in the Sundarbans from June 1. "These three months are the breeding season for most of the species of fish and hence the imposition of the ban in accordance with the Integrated Resources Management Plan (IRMP)," said Md Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO-east) of the Sundarbans. “The forest department has already stopped issuing entry permits to implement the ban, and vigil in the mangrove forest will also be increased,” he said. Also read: Six held for illegally netting fish in Sundarbans Usually the ban remains in force from July 1 to August 31. "But this year we are imposing the ban a month before in coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries,” the DFO said. "This ban will help in the breeding and preservation of fish," he added. ln the 6,017 sq km Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans, there are 210 species of white fish, 24 species of shrimp, 14 species of crabs, 43 species of Mollusca and one species of lobster. Also read: 7 fishermen held for illegally catching fish in Sundarbans

 The government has allocated 16,752 metric tonnes of rice under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme to assist the families of 2, 99,135 registered fishermen in 67 upazilas of 14 districts and Chattogram city during the 65-day ban on fishing in the Bay. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has allocated the VGF rice, said a press release here on Monday. Each family will get 40 kilograms of rice for May 20 to June 30 in the first phase. Also read: Fishing ban in Meghna: Fisherman killed in clash with police The upazilas include—Batiaghata, Dakope, Paikgachha Koyra, Dumuria, digholia and Rupsha of Khulna district, Mongla, Morelganj and Sharankhola in Bagerhat district, Ashashuni and Shyamnagar in Satkhira upazila, Bashkhali, anwara, Mirsarai, Sandwip, Karnaphuli, Sitakunda, Chattogram city of Chattogram district, Sadar, Chakaria, Maheshkhali, Ukhiya, Pekua, Kutubdia, Teknaf and Ramu upazilas in Cox’s Bazar district, Hatia, Sadar, Subarnachar and Companyganj in Noakhali district, Sonagazi upazila in Feni district, Ramgati, Sadar, Kamalnagar and Raipur upazilas of Laxmipur district, Mehendiganj, Bakerganj, Hizla, Sadar and Ujirpur upazilas in Barishal district, Razapur upazila in Jhalakathi district, Sadar, Patharghata, Amtoli and Taltoli upazilas of Barguna district, Sadar, Mathbaria, bhandaria, Najirpur, Nesarabad, Kaukhali and Indurkani upazilas of Pirojpur district, Sadar, Kalapara, Baufal, Dumki, Mirzaganj, Galachipa, Rangabali and Dashmina of Patuakhali district, Sadar, Borhanuddin, charfashion, Doulatkhan, Lalmohon, Tajumuddin and Manpura upazilas in Bhola district. Also read: 2-month ban on hilsa fishing begins The government is going to impose a 65-day ban from May 20 to July 23 on fishing in the Bay of Bengal in the interest of the national economy, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.

Ten fishermen were jailed by a mobile court for a year in Chandpur on Thursday for catching hilsa flouting the ongoing fishing ban. The mobile court led by Chandpur Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Helal Uddin Chowdhury handed down the verdict. Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Sudip Bhattacharya said they detained the fishermen conducting a drive in the  Meghna River in the early hours of Thursday. They also seized two trawlers and one lakh meters of banned current nets. The seized nets were destroyed by setting fire and the two trawlers were kept under the custody of the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department, the officer said. Read: Hilsa ban: 5 injured in attack during drive in Bhola The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25. Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel will carry out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly.

The local administration has extended the ongoing ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake till August 31. Commander of the Bangladesh Navy and marketing manager of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC), Touhidul Islam, said that the ban on netting, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake has been extended by 10 days. READ: Patuakhali: 18 held for violating fishing ban Earlier, the BFDC had extended the ban on fishing twice. The latest decision has been taken to increase the safe breading of fish and water level in the lake, said Touhidul. According to the new decision, fishermen can catch fish from September 1. On April 26, the local administration  imposed a three-month ban on netting, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake with effect from May 1. READ: 22-day Hilsa fishing ban: 5,533 jailed, Tk243 crore net seized The ban was imposed to ensure natural breeding of carp fish. The ban was subsequently extended. Every year, the government imposes a three-month ban on fishing, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake aiming to ensure the natural breeding of fish.

As many as 18 fishermen have been arrested during a river police operation against unauthorised fishing in the Megna River in Rabnabad. Acting on a tip-off, a river police team conducted a drive and arrested the 18 fishermen and seized their four trawlers, fishing nets and one mound of fish on Friday afternoon. Legal action will be taken against those held for fishing against the government ban, said a senior officer of Kalapara Upazila Fisheries Department. READ: Bay fishing ban made 70pc fishermen jobless: COAST Last month, the Bangladesh government imposed a 65-day ban, from May 20 to July 23, on fishing in the Bay of Bengal. The ban was imposed in the interest of the national economy, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim then said. All commercial trawlers have been asked to comply with the ban.READ: 65-day fishing ban in Bay begins from Wednesday

The local administration has imposed a three-month ban on netting, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake from May 1.  The decision was taken on Monday (April 26, 2021) at the office of Deputy Commissioner  to help breeding and rejuvenate fish stocks in the freshwater lake.  Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mizanur Rahman presided over the meeting while BFDC Manager Touhidul Islam, additional deputy commissioner Shilpi Rani Roy, District Fisheries Officer Sribash Chandra, among others, were present at the meeting. Also read: 30-ton fish fry to be released in Kaptai Lake: BFDC The ban was imposed to ensure natural breeding of carp fish, said Mizanur Rahman.  Some 22,250 people who depend on fishing in the district will get food assistance during the ban period through a special VGF Card.  Every year, the government imposes a three-month ban on fishing, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake aiming to  ensure natural breeding of fish.  River police will be deployed to check illegal fishing, marketing and transportation through mobile court. Also read: Fishing resumes in Kaptai Lake after 90-day ban  The Deputy Commissioner also urged all to refrain from fishing as legal action will be taken in case of violation of the order.

The government has imposed a 65-day ban on fishing off the Bay of Bengal to try and preserve the fish stock and boost their breeding.  The ban – lasting from May 20 until July 23 – is timed to occur with the breeding season. All types of fishing vessels will be covered by the restriction. Also read: Bay fishing ban made 70pc fishermen jobless: COAST The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a notification in this connection on April 13 considering the breeding of sea fishes and their conservation. Also read: 12 fishermen jailed for violating hilsa fishing ban Fishing in all coastal countries across the remain prohibited for two to three months during the breeding season as it is essential to ensure a safe environment for mother fishes during this time.

A mobile court on Friday sentenced 13 fishermen to different jail terms for catching hilsa defying the ongoing fishing ban in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj.