Many fishermen ready to net hilsa during ban

Desk Report
Both professional and non-professional fishermen in Shariatpur and Munshiganj districts are now preparing to go fishing in the river Padma during the ban period, which will start on October 7.
Local people said many fishermen are making or repairing nets and trawlers ahead of the beginning of the 22-day ban period so that they can catch huge quantities of hilsa fishes.
Besides trawlers, many fishermen are readying speedboats for fishing with the aim of saving them from mobile court operations.
While visiting the two districts on Wednesday and Thursday, the daily sun correspondent saw that fishermen were making and repairing their fishing gears in Jajira and Naria upazilas of Shariatpur and Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj.
On September 23, the government imposed a 22-day ban from October 7 on catching, selling and transporting hilsa in a 7,000-km breeding ground to ensure its safe spawning.
The river Padma is one of the important breeding grounds for hilsa.
Some villagers said demand for the hilsa, netted from the river, is very high in the country and fishermen of Jajira, Naria and Louhajang upazilas can sell the fish quickly for this reason.
Fish businessmen have already given money to the fishermen in advance to buy hilsa, according to some villagers and fishermen.
A youth at Holdia in Louhajang said, “A boat can catch fish worth Tk 20,000 to 50,000 every day during the ban period.”
“Our boat is not very big. Last year, my father, three hired men and I caught hilsa during the ban period. Each of the hired men earned Tk 70,000 to 80,000,” he said.
But the youth did not disclose how much they earned.
About the drive of local law enforcers, he said they give a portion of their income to local administration and elected representatives to avoid arrest.
Besides, many fishermen were arrested and sentenced to 10 to 15 days’ imprisonment for fishing during the ban period, he said.
When contacted, Kazi Abu Taher, deputy commissioner of Shariatpur district, said, “We will motivate fishermen not to catch fish. Besides, we will operate mobile courts to check hilsa netting from October 7.”
“It is true that fishermen are taking preparations for catching fish during the ban period like the previous year. We will conduct operation against hilsa netting.”
He said, “The area is vast and we cannot gain cent percent success.”
About VGF cards, he said that they cannot provide the cards to all fishermen.