Although catching and selling jatka (juvenile hilsa) is banned in Chandpur throughout March and April, jatka is being sold in various areas along the Meghna river. In particular, it has been seen being sold openly at Akhoner Hat in Hanarchar union of Chandpur Sadar upazila.

On the morning of Monday, 9 March, at Akhoner Hat on the bank of the Meghna in ward 9 of Hanarchar union (union no. 13) of Sadar upazila, several traders were seen calling out to sell jatka, and buyers were crowding in eagerly to buy the fish. Yet under the government ban, catching, transporting, selling and storing jatka is completely prohibited at this time.

Local people allege that some unscrupulous fishers cast nets in the Meghna late at night to catch jatka, which is then brought to the local market and sold openly from dawn until morning. This is disrupting the government's jatka conservation programme and could threaten hilsa production in future.

Local resident Mobarak Hossain said some unscrupulous fishers go fishing in the river every day. Several traders, including Alamgir, Kalu Bepari, Shahid Sheikh and Shah Alam Khan, bring the jatka they catch to Akhoner Hat and sell it by calling out to buyers. "The river police, the coast guard and the administration's people don't see this. We urge the administration to take action quickly," he said. Local people called for regular drives to be stepped up on the Meghna and in nearby markets.

Md Borhan, in-charge (inspector) of Harina police outpost, said: "I don't see hilsa being sold at Harinaghat. But Akhoner Hat is a little far from the outpost, and jatka may be sold there. The fisheries office has been informed, and a drive will be conducted when they come."

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