Finance
Hilsa More than 4,500 fisherman jailed for fishing during Hilsa conservation
Dhaka, November 2: At least 4,549 fishermen have been imprisoned in 18 days during the campaign to save mother hilsa. At the same time, current and other illegal nets worth Tk 214.31 crore were seized.
As of Saturday (October 31), the Central Control Room of the Department of Fisheries has released the report of 'Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2020'.
As this is the Hilsa's main breeding season, the government has banned fishing, selling, marketing, storing and transporting of the fish for 22 days from October 14 to November 4.
According to the report, a total of 2,139 mobile courts have been set up in eight divisions from October 14 to 31 in the Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign.
At this time 39 tons of hilsa and 4 tons of other fish have been seized. A total of 5,446 cases have been filed. A fine of Tk 68 lakh has been collected. The report states that 4,549 fishermen have been imprisoned.
It further said that current and other nets worth Tk 214.31 crore have been seized. The income from boats and nets auctions has been Tk 18 lakh.
According to the Protection and Conservation Fish Rules, 1985, violation of the ban on catching hilsa is punishable by a minimum of one year to a maximum of two years of rigorous imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs 5,000 or both. If the crime is commited a second time, the punishment will be doubled.
Fish ghats, fish warehouses and markets were being raided all over the country during the ban.
An 11-member team comprising of administration, police, RAB, naval police, navy, air force, coast guard and all concerned agencies is working under the leadership of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Shah Mohammad Imdadul Haque for coordination and supervision.
On the other hand, the campaign is being carried out properly in coordination with the administration and district and upazila fisheries officers in the 36 districts involved in hilsa. Twenty-two officials of the ministry have been assigned to different districts for inspection and supervision.
