Shafiqul Islam (Shafiq)
Procurement, transportation, stockpiling, marketing, sale and exchange of hilsa is a punishable offense for 22 days from 4 to 25 October. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has issued a notification in this regard on September 26. Meanwhile, a special campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock from midnight on Sunday (October 3) to protect mother hilsa during the main breeding season this year. The special operation will be conducted in 38 districts of the country till October 25.
District and Upozila Administration, Local Fisheries Department, Bangladesh Police, RAB, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force will jointly conduct the operation. An exchange of views was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Secretariat on Sunday (October 3) under the chairmanship of Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud.
Additional Secretary of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Shyamal Chandra Karmakar, Md. Taufiqul Arif and SM Ferdous Alam, Joint Secretary Subodh Chandra Dhali, Director General of Fisheries Department Kazi Shams Afroz and Additional DIG of Naval Police Shafiqul Islam attended the meeting. Deputy Commissioners (DC) and Superintendents of Police (SP) of 38 districts, local officials of Fisheries Department, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force, RAB and concerned officials of Fisheries Department participated in the meeting.
It was informed at the meeting that all kinds of fishing including hilsa will be stopped in rivers, inlet and seas in 20 districts during the operation. The districts are Dhaka, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Feni, Noakhali, Chittagong, Cox’sBazar and Bagerhat.
Besides, rivers in 18 districts including Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, Tangail, Gazipur, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Natore, Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Chapainawabganj, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Brahmanbaria, Khulna, Kushtia and Narail districts will be closed.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud said the maximum breeding season for hilsa was based on the opinion of fisheries scientists and experts.
This year, 11,118.88 metric tons of VGF rice has been allotted to 5,55,944 fishing families during the period when hilsa harvesting has stopped. The Coast Guard and Navy will take steps to prevent fishermen from fishing in neighboring countries illegally.
The Air Force will increase air surveillance over last year and intensify night patrols. The navy will conduct the operation through 9 ships. Bangladesh Coast Guard will coordinate with the Indian Coast Guard to prevent Indian fishermen from fishing in Bangladesh’s waters.
Awareness and publicity measures will be taken in coordination with local administration, fisheries department and law enforcement agencies, including operation of mobile courts, closure of ice factories, market monitoring and coordination with local fishermen, political leaders and people’s representatives.
