Bangladesh: River police arrests 29 fishermen for violating ban on hilsa fishing

River police have arrested 29 fishermen for violating the two-month ban on catching hilsa fry — imposed by the government — in sanctuary area of the River Padma and River Meghna of Chandpur to increase the production of hilsa and protect jatka (hilsa fry).The arrested fishermen were from Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, and Matlab North of Chandpur.During the arrest, river police seized about 28,56,900 meters of current nets, five fishing boats, and 188 kg of jatka from the fishermen.Contacted, Md Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station, said law enforcers conducted a day-long operation in the sanctuary area to protect jatka (hilsa fry less than 9 inches or 23 centimetres in length).‘During our operation, we’ve arrested 29 fishermen for violating the 2-month ban on catching jatka,’ he told UNB.Of the arrested fishermen, eight were sentenced to one month’s rigorous imprisonment, and 18 others were regularly booked under the Fisheries Act with Sadar Model ...