Hilsa netting on, despite ban
A section of local fishermen in Galachipa, Dashmina, Baufal and Rangabali upazilas are netting hilsa despite the ongoing ban.
They are catching the fish, particularly during the night, in the Tentulia river.
A 100km area of the river in the four upazilas has been declared sanctuary for hilsa but many fishermen are netting the fish on the sanctuary despite a two-month ban started from March 1, said Patuakhali district fisheries office sources said.
The government enforced the ban on netting, selling and transporting hilsa to protect the mother fish till spawning.
During the period, no fisherman is allowed to throw nets in the waters where there is movement of hilsa, say fisheries officials.
On a recent visit to Panpattee area under Galachipa upazila, this correspondent saw some fishermen loading nets on their trawler to catch jatka in the river.
Nazrul Islam, a landless fisherman of Borobaishdia area in Rangabali upazila, said “Despite the ongoing ban I'm netting jatka to run my six-member family.”
Another fisherman Bacchu Gazi of Panpattee village in Galachipa said finding no other alternative this time he is netting jatka to pay his loan money taken from a local NGO.
Md Mojammel Hossain, acting fisheries officer in Galachipa, said they have already taken various awareness programmes in different areas to increase awareness over jatka netting.
Galachipa Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shah Md Rafiqul Islam said action will be taken if anyone catches fish amid the ongoing ban.
On March 11, Baufal UNO and two employees of his office were injured in an attack by criminals when they were conducting a mobile court drive against catching jatka in the Tentulia river.
UNO Pijus Chandra Das and his employees came under attack by a group of around 50 men when they were returning from the drive. The attackers threw brick bats on the mobile court team and police fired point-blank shots to bring the situation under control.
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