The administration has seized ice-laden trucks, trawlers and nets in Ramgati, Lakshmipur, from people preparing to catch hilsa illegally. The drive was carried out on the Meghna in Char Ramiz union of the upazila on Friday (17 October) night.

The drive was led by Ramgati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Syed Amjad Hossain, with Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) K M Injarul Haque, Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Sourav Uz Zaman and members of the army, police station and river police present.

UNO Amjad Hossain said the mobile court drive in Char Ramiz union followed a tip-off. The fishermen had brought ice by truck from Cox's Bazar and were preparing to catch hilsa illegally. About 10,000 metres of net, two large fishing trawlers, two ice trucks and a tractor were seized.

He added that no one could be detained because the boatmen and workers fled during the drive. The seized vessels, vehicles, nets and other items have been handed to the river police, and a regular case will be filed.

To conserve mother hilsa, the government has banned catching all species of fish, including hilsa, in the Meghna for 22 days from 4 October to midnight on 25 October. Anyone fishing during the ban can be jailed, fined or both.

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