Kalapara (Patuakhali) Correspondent

Some are repairing the fishing trawlers, some are tarring the trawlers, some are washing the trawlers, some are weaving the nets, some fishermen are again lifting the nets and accessories on the trawlers. This is how the fishermen of Kalapara coast are spending their busy time.

The 22-day ban on fishing in seas and rivers ends today Sunday midnight. Therefore, the fishermen are busy preparing for the sea journey in the last period. As if they don't have time to suffocate. Fishermen and fishermen hope that the desired hilsa will be caught in their nets this time. However, they claim that in 22 days of the ban, the actual fishermen have not received the government incentive rice. In addition, many fishermen have become jobless in 22 days and are burdened with debt due to not catching the desired hilsa throughout the season.

The government imposed a ban on fishing in seas and rivers from October 13 to November 3 for the unhindered breeding of Hilsa. At that time, the collection, transportation, marketing and sale of marine fish was prohibited. Administration officials including the Fisheries Department were eager to make the 22-day blockade successful. Many fishermen have been fined and jailed by the Fisheries Department for raiding seas and rivers. Therefore, if you go to the sea and cast a net, the fishermen will catch flocks of silver hilsa, according to the fisheries officials.

Ali Mia, the fisherman of Gangamati area of the upazila, said that we have spent these 22 days without work due to the blockade. During this ban we were given only 25 kg of rice. For 5 family members, nothing happened with this move. So in these 22 days I have fallen into debt of 7 to 8 thousand rupees. However, if I get the desired fish in the sea, I hope that I can overcome the back debt.

Jailer Yasin Hossain of Mohipur said, I have worked in jail for 7 to 8 years. But my name is not in official promotion list. Those found engaged in other professions received government rice. So I demand to include the names of real fishermen in the list of incentives.

From Sunday midnight we will sail for the deep sea. So the trawler is loading accessories including nets and ice. Fisherman Yasin said that the painting work of our trawler was finished yesterday.

Kalapara Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said that fishermen will go to the sea from midnight on Sunday. 18 thousand 307 registered fishermen of Kalapara have been given 25 kg of government incentive rice. Upazila Administration, Fisheries Department, Naval Police, Coast Guard and Navy conducted extensive operations in the sea and river to make the blockade 100% successful. We hope the fishermen will get a good amount of hilsa. They will be able to overcome their backlog of debt.