After a long two-month government ban, fishermen in Bhola have gone back to fishing on the Meghna and Tentulia rivers. Catching the hilsa and other species they had hoped for, they are returning to the landings happy.

At Bhola's Tulatuli fish landing on Friday morning (1 May), fishermen were seen setting out on the river while others came back smiling with hilsa and other fish. With the fishermen finding fish in the river, trade at the landing was brisk.

Md Joynal Majhi and Jamal Majhi, Meghna fishermen from Tulatuli in Dhania union of Bhola Sadar upazila, said they went out at 12 midnight on Thursday when the ban ended and fished until dawn. They were pleased that their nets brought in good fish all night.

Khokon Majhi and Monowar Majhi said that towards dawn on Friday the three boatmen in their group caught eight hilsa, which they sold at the landing for about Tk 4,500.

Foyez Majhi and Biplob Majhi said five fishermen on one trawler cast nets at different points on the Meghna from 3am to 8am. They caught good fish and sold it at the landing for about Tk 10,000. If fish keep coming like this for another 10 to 15 days, they said, they will be able to repay all their debts and get back on their feet.

Md Kamal Bepari, a commission agent (arotdar) at the Tulatuli landing, said the agents are also happy that the fishermen are catching well. They have opened their depots after a long time. With the ban over there is pressure at the depots, the fishermen are finding fish, and they will be able to send their target quantities of fish, he said.

Bhola fisheries officer Md Iqbal Hossain said rain began before the fishermen went out when the ban ended, and they are now catching different kinds of fish. He hoped the fishermen's hardship would end.

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