The catching, selling, transporting, hoarding, exchanging and marketing of the national fish Hilsha will be prohibited across the country from today (Friday) to protect mother Hilsha for ensuring safe breeding.
The government imposed the ban across the country from October 7 to October 28, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim while addressing a press conference at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the secretariat in Dhaka on the occasion of the implementation of Hilsha Conservation Campaign-2022, according to a press release.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that fishing will be monitored by the Air Force from the air amid the ban period.
Naval Police, Coast Guard, Navy, District Administration, District Police and the Department of Fisheries will work together, he said, adding that there will be naval air and land guarding to implement the 'Hilsha Conservation Campaign'.
In response to a question from the journalists, Rezaul said that during the ban, officers of the Navy, Coast Guard, Naval Police and Fisheries Department will work round-the-clock in the maritime boundary of the country.
There is no opportunity for anyone from Myanmar or any other country to come and collect fish in the geographical area of the country, he said, adding that if anyone wants to take such steps secretly, the law enforcers will arrest them.
"We are strictly monitoring this matter," he added.
He said that a total of 20 kilograms (kg) of rice per family was given to the fishermen who abstained from Hilsha catching in the past.
"This year, it has been increased to 25 kg. This time 13,872 tonnes of food assistance is being provided to some 5 lakh 54 thousand 887 fishermen-families in 155 upazilas of 37 districts of the country. The amount will increase gradually," he said.
Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr Nahid Rashid, Additional Secretary Md Abdul Quaiyum and Director General of the Department of Fisheries Kh Mahbubul Haque were present, among others, on the occasion.