Fishermen catching hilsa in defiance of the ban have attacked a Department of Fisheries raid team in Barishal. It was the second time the team had been attacked in 24 hours.

The fishermen attacked the team on the Meghna river near Dhulkhola union in Hizla upazila on Sunday (19 October) afternoon. At least 15 people were injured, including Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Alam. The coast guard fired eight blank rounds in self-defence.

District Fisheries Officer Ripon Kanti Ghosh, who led the drive, said: "We went out on the Meghna on Sunday in two speedboats. When we reached the Meghna near Dhulkhola union in the afternoon, 20 trawlers of hilsa poachers surrounded us. Each trawler had at least 20 people, all armed with sticks. They threw bricks and stones indiscriminately."

He said the coast guard fired eight blank rounds to hold off the attackers and the team barely managed to get away. The 15 injured, including the upazila fisheries officer, received first aid at Hizla upazila hospital.

Earlier, around 5.30pm on Saturday, fishermen attacked a raid team on the Kalabadar river near Jangalia union of Barishal and Mehendiganj. There too, 20 blank rounds had to be fired.

Confirming the incident, Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer Kamal Hossain said: "We barely escaped with our lives."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.