‘Withdraw fishing ban immediately’

Trawler owners in Chattogram blocked a busy thoroughfare at the Shah Amanat bridge end in the city’s Bakalia yesterday, demanding immediate withdrawal of a fishing ban.

The blockade, organised by Sonali Jantrik Matsyajibi Samity and Samudrik Matsya Ahoron Boat Malik Samity, continued for half an hour starting at 10am.

Later, they left the spot after police intervened.

Nezam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Bakalia Police Station, told The Daily Star fishing boat owners were trying to stage a demonstration occupying the busy road.

“We convinced them to lift the blockade as we assured them of talking about the matter with high-ups. Traffic situation became normal at 10:30am,” he said.

Top leaders of the two associations could not be contacted as this correspondent found their cellphones switched off.

On May 20, the government, for the first time, imposed a 65-day ban on fishing in the sea across the country, but apparently without taking any rehabilitation measures for the vulnerable fishermen.