Catching of mother hilsa continues unabated

Fishermen in Tangail are catching gravid hilsa fish on a big scale, violating the government ban. The initiatives taken by law enforcers and the fishery department have failed to protect the highly sought-after delicacy.

The government has imposed a ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transportation of hilsa in different rivers for 22 days from October 1 to protect hilsa breeding. But about 20-25 MT of mother hilsa are being netted daily by evading the eyes of law enforcers.

Sources said about 400 fishermen in Tangail sadar, Kalihati, Bhuapur and Nagorpur upazila are catching hilsa round the clock in the Jamuna during the current ban period.  Some fishermen are believed to have said that they are fishing during this period by “managing” the fisheries department, law enforcers, and naval police. They are selling these hilsas at throw-away prices.

Sirajul Hoque Azad, a resident of Gobandashi, told The Independent that hilsas are being sold at some places in the char areas for Tk. 200–300 per kg.

Since the catching of hilsa is currently banned, the fish is not being sold at regular markets, but at Gorilabari and Muktala near Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge at dawn. They are also being sold at Balurchar of Belkuchi upazila in Sirajganj district.

It is learnt that hundreds of fishing boats are out catching the fish. Hilsa is being sold at some ‘soals’ of Tangail Sadar, Nagorpur, Kalihati and Bhuapur.

Some influential ruling party members are collecting “toll” money and fish from the fishermen.

Noor Hossain, a fisherman of Gorilabari, they were fishing merely for the sake of livelihood in the absence of finding any other means of earning. They are not getting any compensation from the government to stay away from catching hilsa during the ban period, he added.

Abdur Razzaque, UP member of Abzalpur village under the Kalihati upazila, said his village was devoured by erosion caused by the Jamuna. All the villagers are now catching hilsa in order to survive, he added. Babor Ali, in-charge of Gobendashi naval police, said it is difficult to launch a drive in the mighty river with limited manpower. Moreover, the force’s boat is out of order, he added.

Masum Billah, upazila fishery officer of Bhuapur, said there is no hilsa fishing zone in the Jamuna in the district. So, local fishermen have not been enlisted for compensation, he explained.

Abdul Halim, upazila fishery officer of Kalihati, said they are conducting drives to save the mother hilsa.

Sukhmaya Sarker, AC (Land) of Tangail Sadar upazila, said they, along with the RAB, conducted a drive in the Jamuna on October 16 and arrested five fishermen. They seized one lakh metres of net and 370 kg of hilsa from the fishermen, who have been sentenced to a seven-day jail term.

Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, deputy commissioner of Tangail, said: “The district administration is trying to declare the Jamuna a hilsa zone. As a result, the fishermen will get compensations from next year.”

 

Catching of mother hilsa continues unabated

Fishermen in Tangail are catching gravid hilsa fish on a big scale, violating the government ban. The initiatives taken by law enforcers and the fishery department have failed to protect the highly sought-after delicacy. The government has imposed a ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transportation of hilsa in different rivers for 22 days from October 1 to protect hilsa breeding. But about 20-25 MT of mother hilsa are being netted daily by evading the eyes of law enforcers. Sources said about 400 fishermen in Tangail sadar, Kalihati, Bhuapur and Nagorpur upazila are catching hilsa round the clock in the Jamuna during the current ban period. Some fishermen are believed to have said that they are fishing during this period by managing the fisheries department, law enforcers, and naval police. They are selling these hilsas at throw-away prices. Sirajul Hoque Azad, a resident of Gobandashi, told The Independent that hilsas are being sold at some places in the char areas for Tk. 200300 per kg. Since the catching of hilsa is currently banned, the fish is not being sold at regular markets, but at Gorilabari and Muktala near Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge at dawn. They are also being sold at Balurchar of Belkuchi upazila in Sirajganj district. It is learnt that hundreds of fishing boats are out catching the fish. Hilsa is being sold at some soals of Tangail Sadar, Nagorpur, Kalihati and Bhuapur. Some influential ruling party members are collecting toll money and fish from the fishermen. Noor Hossain, a fisherman of Gorilabari, they were fishing merely for the sake of livelihood in the absence of finding any other means of earning. They are not getting any compensation from the government to stay away from catching hilsa during the ban period, he added. Abdur Razzaque, UP member of Abzalpur village under the Kalihati upazila, said his village was devoured by erosion caused by the Jamuna. All the villagers are now catching hilsa in order to survive, he added. Babor Ali, in-charge of Gobendashi naval police, said it is difficult to launch a drive in the mighty river with limited manpower. Moreover, the forces boat is out of order, he added. Masum Billah, upazila fishery officer of Bhuapur, said there is no hilsa fishing zone in the Jamuna in the district. So, local fishermen have not been enlisted for compensation, he explained. Abdul Halim, upazila fishery officer of Kalihati, said they are conducting drives to save the mother hilsa. Sukhmaya Sarker, AC (Land) of Tangail Sadar upazila, said they, along with the RAB, conducted a drive in the Jamuna on October 16 and arrested five fishermen. They seized one lakh metres of net and 370 kg of hilsa from the fishermen, who have been sentenced to a seven-day jail term. Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, deputy commissioner of Tangail, said: The district administration is trying to declare the Jamuna a hilsa zone. As a result, the fishermen will get compensations from next year.