Bangladesh
Meghna Fishing Not hilsa, flocks of pangas fish being caught in Meghna
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, Nov 3: After the ban on fishing is lifted, fishermen went to the river with nets. However, even though the desired hilsa is not found in Meghna river in Bhola, swarms of pangas fish are being caught, and because the price is good, the fishermen are smiling in the end.
Fishermen say that after the ban, they got good hilsa in the river for two days, but now they are not getting the desired hilsa. However, instead of hilsa, different sizes of pangas fish are being caught in their nets. On the occasion of the breeding season of hilsa, there was a ban on hunting all types of fish including hilsa in the river from October 7 to October 28. After the government ban, when the nets are lowered into the river, along with the hilsa, there are flocks of different sizes of grasshoppers. No fisherman returns empty-handed.
Fisherman Jamal Majhi of Tulatuli fishing ghat in Dhaniya Union of Bhola Sadar Upazila said, "After the ban is lifted, we are getting a good amount of pangas by going to Meghna. Fishermen are very happy with this. Last year we did not get so many pangas. This time we are getting a lot more Pangas of different sizes."
Suman and Monir Majhi said that four fishermen cast their nets in the Meghna river in Tulatuli from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. 15 centipedes of different sizes got into their net. Later he took it to the ghat and sold it for Tk 50,000. And their eight liters of oil and breakfast cost about Tk 2,500.
They also said that they are paying off the loans made during the ban by selling fish as pangas were caught in flocks in Meghna. Now, if you can find pangas in the river like this for a few more days, then you will be able to save good money for the future.
