To protect jatka (hilsa fry) and brood hilsa and to increase hilsa production, the government has imposed a 22-day ban on fishing in rivers starting from Saturday midnight (Oct 4) until October 25.
During this period, catching, transporting, marketing, and storing all types of fish—including hilsa—in rivers and seas will be completely prohibited. The ban covers the Meghna, Tetulia, Kalabodor, Betua, and Ilisha rivers in Bhola.
Fishing will remain banned in a 90-kilometer stretch of the Meghna River from Char Ilisha to Char Piyal and a 100-kilometer stretch of the Tetulia River from Bheduria to Char Rustam.
To enforce this ban, the district and upazila task forces have already taken preparations in coordination with the fisheries department, district and upazila administrations, river police, and the coast guard. Awareness campaigns are being carried out under the leadership of the deputy commissioner in coastal areas.
According to the district fisheries department, every year such bans are imposed in the Meghna, Tetulia, and connected rivers to ensure safe breeding and growth of hilsa. In Bhola’s seven upazilas, the number of registered fishermen is 169,886, but unofficial estimates suggest it could be as high as 250,000.
District Fisheries Officer Iqbal Hossain told reporters that the ban is a decision of the government’s higher authorities. During this period, registered fishermen will receive 25 kg of rice each. He also mentioned that allocations for the rice have already been made.
However, local fishermen are disappointed. At the start of this season, Bhola’s rivers were almost hilsa-free. Just when hilsa started appearing in the later part of the season, the ban came into effect. Fishermen said they had already spent the entire season unemployed due to the scarcity of hilsa, and now the ban would cause further losses.
Noab, an arat (wholesale market) owner at Tulatuli Fish Ghat in Bhola Sadar, said, “Both we and the fishermen suffered losses when there were no hilsa in peak season. If the ban had started from October 12 instead, it would have been better for everyone.”
Fishermen at Nasir Majhi Fish Landing Center—Nizam Majhi, Kalu, and Mainuddin Majhi—said, “If we are properly supported during this ban, we can recover from losses.”
On Saturday (Sept 29), Fisheries Adviser Farida Akhter, at a special inter-ministerial meeting, elaborated on the ban to protect brood hilsa. She said the ‘Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2025’ will run for 22 days, covering four days before the Ashwini full moon and three days after the new moon. Alongside fisheries officials, river police, coast guard, navy, air force, and other law enforcement agencies will participate in this campaign.
She also said that under the government’s VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) program, 620,000 fishing families in 165 upazilas across 37 districts will receive assistance during the ban.
