In a crackdown on illegal fishing during the hilsa breeding season, a mobile court detained 26 fishermen in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary area of Chandpur over the past 24 hours for violating a government ban. The operation was led by Chandpur Sadar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Shakhawat Jamil Saikat and involved collaboration among the river police, coast guard, and fisheries department. This detention is part of the "Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2024," aimed at protecting the species during its peak breeding period. Mobile court sentences 4 for catching Hilsha in defiance of ban Authorities also seized 50 kilogrammes of hilsa, 10,000 metres of illegal fishing nets known as "current nets," and a fishing boat. Of those detained, 17 fishermen were sentenced to one month in prison without labor. The remaining nine, who were minors, were released issuing a warning and signing written bonds. "Our efforts are aimed at safeguarding hilsa breeding and ensuring compliance with the law," said UNO Shakhawat. The seized hilsa fish were distributed to local orphanages, and the illegal nets were burned at the Chandpur Coast Guard Station to prevent further use. 165 fishermen jailed for defying hilsha ban The government has imposed a 22-day fishing ban from October 13 to October 22 along a 70-kilometer stretch of the Padma-Meghna rivers in Chandpur to ensure the safe spawning of hilsa. During this period, catching, selling, storing, and transporting hilsa or any other fish is strictly prohibited. Violators may face fines of up to Tk 5,000, a maximum of two years in prison, or both.

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

A 22-day ban on catching hilsa fishing began across the country on Thursday midnight. To ensure the safe spawning of the national fish of Bangladesh during its peak breeding period, the government has imposed the ban in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary. The ban will remain in place till November 2. Fishermen will not be allowed to catch fish in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary from Shatnal in Matlab Uttar to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur district. Hilsa price high due to profit-mongers’ greed: Fisheries Minister Local administration has provided 25 kg of rice to each fisherman during the hilsa fishing ban and distribution of rice has begun in different parts of the district. The local administrations also held an awareness programme in the coastal areas of the district. Fishermen were seen passing an idle time and some were seen repairing their nets. Golam Mehedi Hasan, district fisheries officer, said the rice distribution programme among 43,772 registered fishermen will end within one or two days. During this period, the taskforce will conduct drives round the clock to check violation of the ban while the mobile court will conduct drives alongside it. Demand for salted hilsa up in north Bangladesh He also hoped that the implementation of the programme will play a role in increasing the production of hilsa. Meanwhile, Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan said the taskforce committee will strictly perform their duties and temporary camps will be set up in Matlab North, Sadar and Haimchar upazilas of the district. 22-day ban on hilsa fishing to begin on Oct 12: Fisheries Minister  

Fishermen are gearing up to resume netting, as the 22-day ban on catching, selling, transportation and hoarding of the delicious hilsa ends on Friday midnight. Fishermen in different districts, including Chandpur, are preparing their fishing nets and trawlers to head to the rivers after 12am. Read more: 5 arrested with five maunds of Hilsa in Shariatpur Like previous years, the ban was imposed on a 90-kilometre-long area from Matlab Shatnol to Haimchar in Chandpur. The law enforcers seized huge quantities of mother hilsa and fishing nets, trawlers in different parts of the country for catching hilsa defying the ban. Fisheries department, upazila and district administrations, police and Coast Guard personnel carried out regular drives to make sure that the ban was implemented strictly. During the ban, around 50,000 fishermen remained unemployed and were allocated 25kg of rice each, which was not enough for them, said local fishers. Taukir Ahmed, an official from the control room of the district fisheries office, said around 212 fishermen were sent to jail during the ban period in 178 cases. Besides, 41,855 metres of current nets were seized and destroyed, said head of Chandpur Naval Police Mohammad Kamruzzaman. The 22-day government ban on hilsa catching, selling, hoarding and transporting came into effect on October 7, with a view to boosting its production. The ban covered hilsa sanctuaries in six districts -- Barishal, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Patuakhali. Read more: Hilsa ban: 18 detained in Bhola after fishermen clash with police again Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh, is recognised as a certified patented product of Bangladesh. The marine fish goes to rivers in Bangladesh to lay eggs. The fish is very popular both in Bangladesh and West Bengal. About 75 per cent of the world's hilsa is netted in Bangladesh. Chandpur is considered one of the largest trading hubs of hilsa in Bangladesh as the fish from the Padma river is much more popular than the ones that come from other rivers.

Four people, including two cops, were injured in a clash that ensued after fishermen allegedly attacked the police in the Padma River  in Bhola Saturday. Police have detained 18 fishermen in connection with the attack so far. Md Akhtar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ilisha River Police Station, said being informed they conducted a drive in Char area under the Sadar upazila by a trawler around 5am. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the fishermen, who were netting fish in the river, hurled brickbats targeting the cops when they were chased, he said adding that police retaliated with shotgun rounds, leaving four people including two sub-inspectors injured in the attack. Read: Cops among 20 injured in attack by fishermen in Barishal Later, a total of 18 fishermen were detained, 10,000 metres of current net and a fishing trawler were also seized, he said. A case was filed in this connection, the OC added.

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.  

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard seized around 6.38 crore meters of illegal nets, 9,832 kgs of Hilsa and 115 boats from the coastal areas and  different rivers during the  22-day ban on Hilsa netting that ended Monday midnight.   The ban was imposed from October 4 to October 25 midnight  as part of 'Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2021' to ensure safe spawning of the popular fish during its  peak breeding period.   Lt. Khandaker Munif Taki, media officer at the Bangladesh Coast Guard headquarters on Tuesday said  a total of 3,049 drives were conducted during the period and 256 fishermen detained for catching Hilsa illegally. Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban He said that the seized nets were burnt in the presence of local administration, members of law enforcement agencies and fisheries officials and the seized Hilsa were distributed among local orphanages and the poor.  Besides, the detained fishermen were sentenced to different jail terms and fined through mobile courts.  Hilsa has the highest contribution to the country's fish production, which contributes to more than 12.09% of the country's fish production.  The production of the fish has gone up by 159.76% in the last 15 years. Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight The government also imposes ban on catching hilsa during March-April to help the Hilsa fry grow and return to  sea.  Hilisa production jumped from 300,000 tons in 2008-09 to 500,000 tons in 2017-18. In the last financial year, 550,000 tons of Hilsa were caught in the country, according to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry. 

Looking for hilsa? No worries it is coming back!    Fishermen are taking preparations to resume hilsa netting as a 22-day ban imposed by the government comes to an end Monday midnight. Besides catching, the ban was imposed on selling, hoarding and transporting the fish until October 25 to ensure safe spawning of the national fish during its peak breeding period. The law enforcers seized huge mother hilsa and fishing nets, trawlers in different parts of the country for catching hilsa defying the ban. Read: Fishing trawler hits UNO’s speedboat during Hilsa ban drive in Barishal Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel carried out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly. The decision of imposing the ban was taken at a meeting of the National Taskforce held in September with Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim in the chair. During the meeting, the minister said the government will take strict action against those involved in harming the national interest of the country. The objective of the restriction is to save mother hilsa which lays eggs during the period. The peak hilsa season is during the Monsoon months of August, September and October. Read: Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, hilsa production jumped from 3 lakh mts in 2008-09 to 5 lakh mts in 2017-18.  In 2019, hilsa production rose to 5.33 lakh mts. The ministry has taken different measures to boost its production to 6 lakh mts in the current fiscal. Hilsa has the highest contribution to the country’s fish production as the single fish species. More than 12.0 per cent of the country’s fish production comes from hilsa.

Two Ansar members were injured and a shotgun went missing in Gazaria river on Friday after a fishing trawler rammed into the speedboat of Mehendiganj upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) while he was overseeing a ban on Hilsa fishing. Confirming the incident UNO Mohammad Shahadat Hossain Masud said legal action will be taken in this regard. He gave no further details about the incident that occurred in Darirchar Khajuria Union of Mehendiganj upazila of the district. The injured have been given first aid. Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight The divers of Barisal River Fire Service station launched a search for the missing firearm. 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.

Kitchen markets in Dhaka saw huge crowds of Hilsa lovers on Sunday evening as they rushed to buy the delicious fish ahead of a 22-day ban on its catching, selling, hoarding and transporting. Many of the customers, however, retuned home empty as most of the sellers of the popular fish ran out of their stocks by 10 PM due to its high demand and supply crunch. Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight Talking to UNB, some Hilsa traders at Karwan Bazar said this season saw its higher prices due to its short supply and large volumes of export. “The demand was very high, even well before the restriction period, due to the short supply,” said Kamrul Hasan, a fish trader. The government has given a go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of Hilsa to India by October 10, ahead of Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community. The government had banned the Hilsa export to India in 2012 but it approved the export of 500 tonnes of the fish in 2019 and 475 tonnes in 2020. The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight as it is aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25. Read: Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole 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. Aminul Islam, district fisheries officer of Laxmipur, told UNB that there are around 52,000 fishermen in his district and 3,000 of them are registered. They will get around 40 kg food aid as compensation during this restriction period, he said. Meanwhile, the district administration was seen campaigning along riversides to make the fishermen aware about the importance of the government decision. Read:Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni On Sunday, Raunak Mahmud, secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry, said some 1,118.068 metric tons of VGF rice has been allocated for 555,944  fishermen families in 36 districts where the  ban on selling and fishing Hilsa will be enforced. According to Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985, fishermen not abiding by the ban can be punished with a minimum of 1 to maximum of 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment or be fined up to TK 5,000.