During a recent visit to different wholesale fish markets in Bhola, fish traders were seen busy packing jatka to send those to other parts of the country including Dhaka. The fries are also on open sale in different local markets.

The traders said they are having good catches of jatka in the Meghna and Tetulia rivers and in the Bay for the last one month.

They said hundreds of maunds of jatka are being traded daily in wholesale markets at Gazipur and Talatali in Bhola Sadar; Chowkigata and Kazirhat in Dauht Khan; Shoshiganj and Char Zahirnddin in Tajumuddin; Mongol Sikder and Lord Hardinge in Lalmohon; and Betna, Char Kossopia and Dhal Char in Char Fassion.

Large quantities of jatka are also sold even in small rural markets in the district.

Khorshed Alam, a fish trader at Gazipur said at least 100 maunds of jatka are being sent to Dhaka every day from this market.

He said jatka netting had decreased last year due to vigilance by Coast Guard and Navy personnel. It has increased now due to poor vigilance, he claimed.

Sofi Mazi, a fisherman of Ilisha said jatka is being caught by using current nets and mosquito nets.

When contacted, Bhola Deputy Commissioner Kabir Mohommad Asraf Alam said vigilance teams were formed for regular monitoring of markets and taking action against persons who net and trade in jatka.