326 fishermen jailed for defying Hilsa ban in Manikganj
The mobile courts seized and burnt 56 lakh metres of illegal fishing nets worth Tk14 core
So far 326 fishermen have been jailed for different terms by mobile courts in Manikganj district during this season for catching Hilsa in the rivers the Padma and the Jamuna defying a government ban.
The mobile courts seized and burnt 56 lakh metres of illegal fishing nets worth Tk14 core.
According to the District Fisheries Office, 84 mobile courts in three Upazilas of the district have conducted 190 drives so far. During the raids, they seized 259 kg of Hilsa.
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In addition to imprisonment, several fishermen were also fined with a total of Tk5.67 lakh.
The government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching, selling, transporting, and hoarding Hilsa from October 14 to November 4. Besides, the government has allocated 20 kg of rice for each fisherman to survive during the ban.
Manikganj District Fisheries Office Senior Assistant Director Preeti Kona Pal said, "A total of 7,900 fishermen of the district were given 20 kg of rice each. Still some dishonest fishermen are catching Hilsa illegally in the river by disobeying the ban."
However, a fisherman from Harirampur Upazila said, "A large family can't run for 22 days with only 20 kg of rice. For that, some fishermen are catching Hilsa risking their lives."
