All types of fishing in the Padma-Meghna rivers in Chandpur will be banned from midnight on Saturday to increase Hilsa production and conserve Jatka.
The administration has announced that in addition to fishing, buying, selling, transporting, and storing fish will be banned during the months of March and April. Penalties and fines will be imposed for violating the law.
According to the district administration, the ban will be in force in an area of 30 kilometers from Shatanl to Amirabad Bazar in Matlab Uttar Upazila and 70 kilometers to Charbherbi in Haimchar. During this time, related activities including ice factories will also be closed.
The government has decided to provide a total of 160 kg of rice in four installments to 39,400 registered fishermen in Chandpur as livelihood assistance during the ban. However, if caught fishing in the river, they can be punished with one to two years in prison or a maximum fine of Tk 5,000 – or both.
Chandpur Naval Zone Police Superintendent Syed Moshfiqur Rahman said patrols will continue from March 1 to April 30 and action will be taken against those who violate the law under the Fisheries Act.