Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari

During the main breeding season of hilsa, a ban has been issued to catch hilsa for 22 days to protect mother hilsa.

Hilsa fishing is banned for 22 days from Saturday (October 13) midnight. Which will continue till November 2. During this time fishing, transportation, marketing and storage will be prohibited.

Thousands of fishermen on the banks of Padma in Goalando upazila of Rajbari will become unemployed. Due to which they will face scarcity and uncertainty.

However, 25 kg of rice is being given to each fisherman for rehabilitation during the ban.

Various fishing boat wharves on the bank of Daulatdia Padma were seen, since fishing will be closed for 22 days, boat-trawlers are plying at the wharf. Some are going to the river to fish for the last time before the ban. But they have to return before 12 o'clock tonight. Some have already brought all fishing equipment including nets, boats to the ghat.

Again, it can be seen in many places, from Goalander Antar Mor to Daulatdia Char Carnation, some unscrupulous seasonal fishermen on the banks of the Padma are busy renovating new engines, nets and boats for fishing. Seasonal fishermen do not catch fish in the river throughout the year, but they illegally defy the ban in the hope of more fish and profit. Some real fishermen also compete in fishing with them. Along with this, many seasonal fish buyers (traders) are preparing for more profit for buying fish.

Daulatdia ghat area fisherman Shukur Halder said that fishing is stopping, so I have brought the net boat to the shore. We demand speedy distribution of the rice that the government will give to the fishermen during the ban.

Another fisherman Asel Halder said, "Hilsa catching is prohibited for 22 days, if the collection of installments of NGOs had stopped during this period, then I could have been better at least to some extent."

Fishermen say that many are burdened with debt due to the lack of hilsa in Padma during this full season. In the meantime, they are disoriented in the hope that the ban on catching hilsa will be lifted again.

However, the Department of Fisheries says that strict operations will be carried out to protect mother hilsa. And 25 kg of rice is being given to registered fishermen to alleviate the problem of fishermen.

Meanwhile, the Naval Police is conducting awareness activities to prevent fishing. They are saying that there is a strong campaign to protect mother hilsa.

SI in charge of Daulatdia naval police outpost. Chagir Mia said, we will conduct regular raids in the river. Our team will be on round-the-clock patrol to ensure that no one catches any fish including Hilsa during the prohibited period. We conducted awareness meetings and distributed leaflets to prevent fishermen from fishing at ghats.

Rajbari District Fisheries Officer (Acting) Mostafa Al Rajib said, if the hilsa campaign is successful, the production of hilsa in the river will increase. So extensive preparations have been made to make the campaign successful.