Published on 12:00 AM, March 26, 2015

26 fishermen jailed for catching jatka

Coastguard in Chandpur distributes among the poor 500 kg of jatka (hilsa less than ten inches long) that they seized from two launches in the Meghna River yesterday. Despite frequent drives by law enforcers, a section of fishermen have continued illegally catching of jatka, causing disturbance to breeding and development of the popular fish. PHOTO: STAR
Our Correspondent, Chandpur

A mobile court yesterday jailed 26 fishermen for catching jatka (hilsa less than 10 inches long) in the Meghna River, defying ban.

Around 200 kg of jatka, 2,000 metres of current net and four engine-driven boats were seized during the drive.

Haimchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Saiful Islam led the mobile court that sentenced the fishermen to one and a six months imprisonment. The court also fined the fishermen Tk 1,000 each. 

In another drive, Coastguards seized around 500 kilograms of jatka from two launches in the river early yesterday.

 Acting on secret information, a team of coastguard, led by its Commander Lieutenant M Habibur Rahman, conducted a drive in Dhaka-bound launches 'MV Rajhansa-8' and 'MV Samrat-2' at around 1:00am.

The law enforcers seized jatka worth about Tk 1.5 lakh from the launches, said coastguard sources. None was arrested in this connection.

The seized fish were later distributed among poor people, madrasas and orphanages.

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