Chhaleman Sardar is a fisherman from Ibrahimpur union in Chandpur Sadar upazila. For nearly 30 years he has supported his family by catching hilsa on the Padma and Meghna. Like the river's waves, every day of his life is full of ups and downs, and struggling with life is his daily habit.

The 22-day mother hilsa protection drive begins from midnight on Friday (3 October). During this time fishermen cannot go on the river or cast nets. For thousands of fishing families like Chhaleman's, this period becomes a terrible nightmare: household income stops and worry grips the family.

Although the government has announced food aid, Chhaleman complains that he does not receive it properly, and the little help that does come is not enough to run a household.

Looking at his wife and children, he said: "We get food, but can we last 22 days on it? A household doesn't run on rice alone. We need medicine, salt and oil, and money for the children at school." Forced by need, they live on borrowing and loan instalments. Along with the pain of not being able to go out on the river, the burden of debt makes the nights heavier.

As every time, Chhaleman Sardar's demand is that the government give real financial support, including cash, and not just food. Then perhaps they could get through these 22 days off the river with a little relief.

Another fisherman, Md Kashem of the Rajrajeshwar area of Sadar upazila, said: "The government gives us rice, but it doesn't do much for us. And when they hand it out, they give 5–7kg short. Then the government gives calves, sewing machines and fishing gear, but we can't say to whom. Real fishermen must be helped first. Worry lines are now on our foreheads. Only Allah knows how we will get through 22 days."

District Fisheries Officer Sribas Chandra Chanda said Chandpur has 45,615 registered fishermen, who will receive food aid on time. "We have already held awareness meetings and rallies against catching mother hilsa. We hope fishermen will obey the ban," he said.

Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin Uddin told Jagonews24 that catching, transporting, storing and selling all kinds of fish, including hilsa, had been banned for 22 days. During this time the fisheries department, Coast Guard, river police and upazila administration will jointly run drives on the Padma and Meghna in Chandpur every day.

He added that as food aid, fishing families would get 30kg of rice each this year, an increase of 5kg. "We have raised the issue of financial support alongside rice with the government, and we hope financial support will soon be given along with food aid. Fishermen's cooperation is very important in this 22-day drive to protect mother hilsa," he said.

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