With the withdrawal of ban on catching of Hilha fish from the rivers, several thousands fishermen of Bera upazila in Pabna have returned to the river Padma, Jamuna and the Hurasagar after 22 days.
However, fishermen of the district are worried that they will not be able to catch enough Hilsha from the rivers because after releasing eggs, most the Hilsas have returned to the sea.
Raicharan Halder, 60, of village of Maldahapara village informed, the time for laying eggs by the Mother-Hilshas have been elapsed and those have returned to the sea. That is why there is a little chance to catch Hilsha from the rivers.
The fishermen of villages Bera Charpara, Rajbangshipara, Paiyna, Maldahapara, Nakalia, Khanpur and Shonepara informed, they spent idle time, without any work for last 22-day during the imposition of ban on fishing in the river. Now, with the withdrawal of the ban for catching fish from the river, several thousand fishermen have returned to the rivers with renewed enthusiasm. But, they were also worried not to catch enough Hilsha because most of the fishes are likely to return to the salty-sea after laying eggs in the fresh river water.
Meanwhile the Department of Fisheries officials in cooperation with local law enforcement agency members have so far seized 54,87,000 metres of Current nets worth Taka 55 million, two fishing boats, realised Taka 150,000 fine, awarded 30 persons imprisonment and recovered 289 kilogrammes of Hilsha fish and through 21-mobile courts. Recovered fish were distributed among orphans and the students of residential madrasahs.