3,522 fishermen get rice during hilsa ban in Gaibandha
BSS, Gaibandha
A total of 3,522 fishermen families of four upazilas in the district got 70.44 tonnes of rice as food assistance from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock yesterday to pass Hilsa ban period without food crisis.
According to sources the government imposed a 22-day ban on the netting, selling, marketing, importing, transporting and exchanging Hilsa across the country that came into effect from zero hour of October 09.
The aim of the restriction is to ensure safe spawning, protect the breeding environment and shelter the mother Hilsa from any disturbance from October 09 to 30, sources said.
As the fishermen of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas would remain refrained from catching the Hilsa fishes in the river of Brahmaputra, Jamuna and Teesta here from October 09 to 30, the ministry allocated rice for the poor fishermen here to help pass their days without food crisis.
Of the total, some 900 families were selected from Shaghata upazila, 1000 from Fulchhari upazila, 822 from Sadar upazila and 800 from Sundarganj upazila of the district, said an official.
An inaugural ceremony on food assistance distribution activity to the fishermen organized by Sadar upazila administration and department of fisheries was held on the premises of Kamarjani union parishad of the upazila in the district in the afternoon.
Deputy Commissioner Abdul Matin addressed the function as the chief guest and district fisheries officer Abdud Dayan Dulu and union parishad chairman Abdus Salam Zakir was present at the event as the special guests.
