Same trend, every year

It's been a week since the two-month ban on fishing in six hilsha sanctuaries, the government's Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice aid is yet to reach the fishermen families in Barishal. 

Every year, the aid reaches the families so late that the fishers are forced to accept this as an unfortunate norm.  For many of them, the amount of aid provided isn't enough.

Kazirhat fishermen's village in Sadar upazila of Bhola has almost a few hundred fisher families.

Mintu Mistry, a member of this fishing village, has a family of ten. The last time he went fishing was on December 28, last year.

But as soon as the ban begins, he struggles to feed his family and worries how he can survive the two-month ban.

"Every year government aid comes in late and on top of that, we're left to survive on just 40 kg of rice for two months," he said.

Not only in Bhola, but also in Barisal's Babuganj upazila, Patuakhali's Kalapara and Kuakata -- families are yet to receive any assistance, confirmed local fishermen.

According to the Barishal Divisional Fisheries Office, the ban was introduced in 2005. At present, apart from three districts of Barishal division, the ban will be implemented in Chadpur, Shariatpur and Laxmipur rivers.

Contacted, Anisur Rahman Talukder, the divisional director of the fisheries department (Barishal), said, "At present, rice aid is being provided to more than 1,64,000 families in Barisal division. For violation of the ban, 211 people have been jailed."

"A campaign has already been launched to enforce the ban this time. Hopefully the ban will succeed," he added.

Israel Pandit, president of the Barisal District Khudra Matsyajibi Samiti, said, 40kg of rice for each family is insufficient and it needs to be increased to 150kg.