Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid today said that catching of Jatka should be stopped and the laws in this regard must be enforced strictly.
He called upon all from fishermen to consumers to come forward to conserve the Jatka to protect Hilsa, a national resource, for future generations.
He made these remarks at a program here to inaugurate 'Jatka Conservation Week- 2026, where he attended as the chief guest.
The minister stated that Hilsa is a source of pride and heritage for the country.
He noted that during 1978-81, President Ziaur Rahman identified Hilsa as a key sector for earning foreign currency.
Later, in 2003-04, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia took effective initiatives to increase the Hilsa production and its conservation, he said.
He added that although Hilsa production once reached around 2 million tons, it had dropped to nearly 200,000 tons. However, due to the Jatka conservation efforts, the production is now increasing again. If Jatka fishing is completely stopped, Hilsa production could once more reach up to 2 million tons.
The minister mentioned that Chandpur is one of the main centers of the Hilsa production in the country, contributing nearly 80 percent of total production.
However, compared to past abundance, Hilsa numbers have declined, mainly due to Jatka fishing. He stressed that catching a single juvenile Hilsa destroy thousands of future fish, making public awareness crucial for its conservation.
He also highlighted that the government is providing humanitarian assistance including rice and oil to fishermen with an estimated market value of around Taka 6,500. However, he emphasized that responsible behavior from the fishermen is equally important alongside the government support.
Addressing the fishermen, the minister urged them to refrain from fishing for at least two months so that small Hilsa can grow larger and become more profitable in the future.
He further noted that Hilsa has now become an internationally recognized brand for Bangladesh. "Hilsa means Bangladesh" and maintaining this reputation requires collective efforts.
He expressed his hope that improving environmental management in the chars and natural habitats of Chandpur would further boost the Hilsa production.
The event was chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Delwar Hossain. Member of Parliament (MP) from Chandpur-3 Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, Additional Secretary Syeda Nowara Jahan, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md. Zia Haider Chowdhury, Director General of the Fisheries Research Institute Anuradha Bhadra, Deputy Commissioner of Chandpur Ahmed Ziaur Rahman and its Superintendent of Police (SP) Md. Robiul Hasan and Administrator of the District Council Advocate AKM Salim Ullah Selim, were present at the function as special guests.
Jatka Conservation Week-2026, organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, is being observed in 20 Hilsa-rich districts across the country.
Alongside the central programs, various awareness activities are also being conducted in those districts and upazilas.
This year's theme: "If we stop catching Jatka, rivers and seas will be filled with Hilsa."
