Govt bans hilsa fishing in Meghna for two months

The government has embargoed fishing in a 100km stretch of the Meghna River for two months starting Mar 1 in Chandpur and Lakshmipur to protect the juvenile and brood hilsa.

Chandpur Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Feb 2015, 08:38 AM
Updated : 28 Feb 2015, 08:39 AM

Chandpur fisheries officials say the government will provide 40kg rice each to about 28,967 out of 36,535 fishermen in the district during this period.

Others will be given the facility gradually.

About 60km of the banned fishing zone, stretching from Chandpur’s Shatnal to Lakshmipur’s Char Alexander, falls under Chandpur.

But the fishermen say they will have a tough time during this period when they will have no work.

However, officer of the fisheries department Md Shafiqur Rahman said they would initially train 12,060 fishermen for alternative livelihoods.

He said anyone caught fishing during the period from Mar 1 to Apr 30 would face legal actions.

Chandpur’s coastguard station Commander Lt Md Habibur Rahman said they had stepped up patrolling in the river.