Despite a government ban, illicit hilsa catching is continuing unabated along a 42-kilometre stretch of the Padma River in Rajbari, endangering the breeding process of the national fish of Bangladesh. Local sources reported that a group of unscrupulous fishermen is flagrantly disregarding the 22-day ban, catching mother hilsa and selling them openly on riverbanks during daylight hours. The government ban, enforced from October 13, aims to protect hilsa during its peak breeding period. The restrictions are set to remain in place until November 3. Witnesses from areas like Urakanda and Borot Antarmor in Sadar upazila have described the scenes of fishermen preparing to venture out on the river in defiance of the law. At Antarmor, numerous fishing boats were seen on the river, with teams of three to five fishermen catching anywhere from 10 to 30 kilograms of hilsa per outing. Both men and women were seen gathering on the riverbanks to purchase hilsa directly from the fishermen, underscoring the pervasiveness of the illegal trade. Fishermen revealed that hilsa were being sold for between Tk 350 and Tk 400 per kilogram for fish weighing 200 to 400 grams. Larger fish, weighing between 700 to 800 grams, fetched between Tk 800 and Tk 900, while those nearing one kilogram sold for up to Tk 1,200. Read: Nine fishermen jailed for catching hilsa defying ban in Shariatpur Retailers, benefiting from a discount of 100 grams per kilogram, were making a profit of Tk 50 to Tk 100 by reselling the fish within nearby villages, even offering home delivery. This illegal activity continues despite the presence of a task force formed to monitor the situation. Fishermen are reportedly tracking the task force's movements, only venturing out to fish after the authorities leave the area, allowing them to evade detection. Challenges for Enforcement Local fisheries officials have acknowledged the difficulty of enforcing the ban due to a lack of manpower and financial resources.

The government of Bangladesh is going to impose a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing from tomorrow (October 12). Hilsa catching, selling and transportation will remain prohibited during the period to ensure the safe spawning of the national fish of Bangladesh during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till November 2. On September 20, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim announced the 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsa at a meeting of the National Task Force Committee on Hilsa Resource Development at the conference room of the Fisheries Department at Matsya Bhaban in Dhaka. Delay ban on catching hilsa by a month: Barishal fishing community The objective of the restrictions on fishing is to protect the mother hilsa which lay eggs during the period, he said. Hilsa makes the highest contribution to the country’s fish output as a single fish species. Recognized as a certified patented product of Bangladesh, the fish swim to rivers to lay eggs. Hilsa is very popular both in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. About 75 percent of the world's hilsa is netted in Bangladesh. Govt allows 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa export to India ahead of Durga Puja Chandpur is considered one of the largest trading hubs of hilsa in Bangladesh as the fish from the Padma River is more popular than the ones that come from other rivers because of its distinct taste. 22-day ban on hilsa fishing to begin on Oct 12: Fisheries Minister

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.

A mobile court on Saturday sentenced 45 fishermen to different jail terms for catching coveted  hilsa defying a ban in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj district.

Separate mobile courts on Friday sentenced 19 fishermen to different jail terms on charge of catching hilsa defying fishing ban in Sadar and Chauhali upazilas of Sirajganj district.