Harun Munshi (Mirzaganj ,Patuakhali)

Rampant fishing for brood hilsa is reportedly taking place in the Payra River in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali, taking advantage of what local residents describe as lax enforcement by the authorities. Defying the fishing ban, fishermen are reportedly catching hilsa in the river day and night, seemingly without fear of intervention.

Buyers are gathering along the riverbanks to purchase hilsa. However, fishermen are reportedly selling their catch only to people they know.

Local residents allege that this year's enforcement of the ban on catching brood hilsa has been unusually weak. They said the authorities maintained strict surveillance in previous years, making it difficult for fishermen to catch hilsa openly.

According to residents, fishermen would previously pull up their nets and steer their boats toward the riverbanks as soon as they heard the sound of a speedboat. Now, they allege, patrol speedboats enter the middle of the river, remain afloat for a short time without chasing the fishermen, and then leave.

Brood hilsa fishing is reportedly taking place at at least 10 locations along this stretch, including Rampur, Bhikakhali, Piprakhali, Manoharkhali, Golkhali, Charkhali, Matibhanga and Bhutum. More than a hundred fishermen are allegedly catching hilsa in defiance of the ban.

On Friday afternoon, a visit to Rampur village in Madhabkhali Union revealed widespread fishing activity. Between Rampur and Bhikakhali, approximately 50 to 60 boats were seen catching brood hilsa.

When the fishermen realised that their activities were being filmed, they reportedly started their boat engines and moved toward the middle of the river. Their conduct suggested little concern about the fishing ban.

Md. Jalilur Rahman Sikder, a resident of Rampur village, told Amar Desh that the authorities were not conducting sufficiently robust enforcement operations.

He further claimed that some dishonest officials and employees, as well as the operators of trawlers and speedboats, were allegedly tipping off fishermen before joint operations by the fisheries department, Coast Guard and river poli.

Some fishermen, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the ban was widely being ignored.

“Almost nobody is following the ban. Everyone else is fishing, so we are doing it too,” they said.

They also acknowledged that hilsa catches tend to be higher during the ban period.

However, they complained that genuine fishermen often do not receive government assistance during the restriction period. Instead, they alleged, people engaged in other occupations manage to get their names included on official fishermen's lists through various means and receive the benefits.

Md. Mahbubur Rahman, OC of the Payrakunja River Police Outpost, said the police had to patrol a vast 35-kilometre stretch of the Payra River.

He noted that the distances to Rampur and Kakrabunia made it difficult for patrol teams to reach those areas quickly.

Despite these challenges, he added, the river police were making every effort to protect brood hilsa in coordination with the upazila administration and fisheries department.

Mahfuzur Rahman, Upazila Fisheries Officer, said the department lacked the manpower and watercraft needed to conduct round-the-clock operations to protect brood hilsa.

He said fishermen were taking advantage of these limitations to continue fishing despite the ban.

According to the officer, a team was dispatched to the Rampur area on Tuesday afternoon after receiving information about hilsa fishing there.

Sheikh Md. Russell, UNO said the administration had received reports of some unscrupulous fishermen catching brood hilsa in the Rampur and Kakrabunia areas. He said an enforcement team had visited Rampur, chased away fishermen and recovered some fishing nets.“