Ali Hossain Rubel, Bhola

After the ban, we are now getting fish of various species including hilsa, poa, pangas in our nets by the grace of Allah.

We can't say how happy we are. Hopefully if we get another 6/7 days like this, we will pay off the installments taken from the NGO in the past, as well as reduce the burden of other debts including borrowings during the long 22 days of ban. It will be possible to turn around by paying off the loan during the ban. Because we suffered a lot during the ban.

We could not eat three meals of rice with the rice that the government gave us. Sometimes I ate two meals, sometimes I ate three meals. Never ate a meal again. This is how I spent the long 22 days of the ban. These things were said by the fishermen of the Meghna River in Tulatli area of Dhaniya Union of Bhola Sadar Upazila. Nuru Alam Majhi, Taiyab Majhi, Hasan Majhi and Zakir Majhi and many other fishermen.

From the morning of Sunday 05 November till the afternoon of writing this report on Monday 6 November, fishermen have been seen running in groups in Meghna and Tentulia rivers in different fishing ghats of Bhola Sadar Upazila. Many people are returning to the ghat with a smile on their faces with fish from the river. He is going to sell the fish at the wharf and throw the net in the river again.

Bholar canal area of Shivpur Union said Meghna river fishermen. Anwar Majhi, Swapan Majhi and Siddique Majhi also said that after the ban, they went to the river with four or five boats separately and were getting a good amount of hilsa, pangas and poa fish every day. Every day they can sell fish worth 10 to 15 thousand rupees.

The fishermen of Tentulia river in Hajihat area of Veduria union said. Akbar Majhi, Sohail Majhi and Masud Majhi said that the current amount of fish including hilsa and pangas they are getting in the river if it is available for another five-six days then the debt during the ban period will be paid.

Buyers who come to buy fish at Tulatuli Fishery. Mizanur Rahman and Kabir Hossain said that they came to the ghat to buy fish because the price of fish is high in the market. But the price is also high at the Ghat. A kilogram of hilsa is being sold for five and a half to seven thousand taka and fifty four thousand to eight thousand taka.

Artdar of Tulatuli Fishery. Abdul Khalek said that after the ban, the fishermen went to the river and got pangas weighing 5/12 kg along with hilsa. Due to this, the trade has become crowded in our ghat. Retail and wholesale buyers from different areas are coming to buy fish. However, due to the 22-day ban, the price is a little higher due to the demand for sending fish to various wholesale markets including Dhaka, Barisal, Chandpur. After a few days the price will drop a bit.

Bhola District Fisheries Officer. Abul Kamal Azad said that fishermen are happy with the amount of fish they are currently getting in the Meghna and Tentulia rivers. However, after the next few days, more fishes including hilsa, pangas and poa can be found in the river.

The official expressed hope that the fishermen will be able to pay off the loans they have incurred during the ban and save for the coming days.