Munshiganj (South) Correspondent

 BNP Central Committee Vice Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon said, "If we don't catch hilsa for the next five years during the prohibited period, we can build another Padma Bridge." If hilsa is not caught for five years, the country will become self-sufficient in hilsa. 

By exporting this hilsa abroad, we can earn money equal to the cost of one Padma Bridge in five years. Therefore, everyone must stop catching Mother Hilsa during this prohibited time.

 He made these comments while addressing a human chain after a boat rally led by him on Saturday at 11 am near the former Upazila Parishad of Louhajong  urging people not to catch Mother Hilsa in the Padma River.

Asaduzzaman Ripon said, "Apart from the government initiative, a political party across Bangladesh is carrying out such a program in the interest of the country and the people. The people of Louhajong and Tongibari have undoubtedly set an example for the people across the whole of Bangladesh. This hilsa is our national resource, if we do not catch, store, sell, transport, or even eat Mother Hilsa until the 25th of this month, and if we can do this every year and punish some miscreants who are catching hilsa by concealing from law enforcement agencies - if this can be stopped, then Bangladesh will not only become self-sufficient in hilsa in the next five years, but also be able to export it abroad. We will be able to build another Padma Bridge like one Padma Bridge. With the income from hilsa fish in the Padma River, we can undertake major development for Munshiganj and the whole country.

The human chain, following the boat rally with the slogan "We will not catch Mother Hilsa, we will not harm the country," was conducted by District Juba Dal Joint Convener Ataur Rahman Khan. Others who spoke at the time included former Upazila BNP Treasurer Kamal Khan, Upazila BNP leader Mosharraf Hossain Nusu, Central Assistant Secretary of Volunteer Party Shah Alam Rony, former Convener of Tongibari Upazila Chhatra Dal Mizanur Rahman, former Member Secretary of Government Louhajong College Chhatra Dal Zahir Amin Dewan, former Chhatra Dal leader of Government Haraganga College BM Tuhin, and others.