The Coast Guard has seized 42 maunds of jatka (young hilsa) in an operation in Nalchity, Jhalakathi. The jatka had been caught from the river in defiance of the government ban meant to protect mother hilsa and was being transported for sale.

Acting on a tip-off, the Coast Guard ran an operation on the morning of Wednesday, 1 April, at Dapdapia zero point on the Dhaka-Kuakata highway. A search of a Dhaka-bound Islam Paribahan bus that had left Patuakhali turned up a large quantity of jatka.

On hearing the news, Nalchity upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rizvi Ahmed Sabuj went to the spot. He conducted a mobile court and fined the bus driver, supervisor and helper a total of Tk 5,000.

The Coast Guard said catching, transporting and selling jatka is completely banned under government instructions to protect mother hilsa. The jatka was seized while being transported illegally in breach of this ban.

The seized 42 maunds of jatka were later distributed to various madrasas and orphanages in the upazila, the upazila administration said.

Upazila administration and Coast Guard officials said the ongoing drive to protect mother hilsa would be stepped up and strict action against lawbreakers would continue.

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