The upazila administration in Zajira, Shariatpur, detained five people as they were buying hilsa in breach of the ban. Each was later fined Tk 5,000.

They were detained with the fish on Monday morning (13 October) during a drive on the river bank at Kazir Mor, Pailan Mollah Kandi and Barakandi in the upazila.

The upazila administration said the government has imposed a complete 22-day ban on catching, selling, transporting and storing hilsa in rivers during the mother hilsa's breeding season to increase fish production. It began on 3 October and runs until 25 October. Some unscrupulous fishermen had been evading the administration, catching fish in the Padma at Zajira and selling them on the river bank. To stop them, a drive was carried out on Monday morning led by upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Kaberi Roy.

Five buyers were detained with 20 kg of hilsa at Kazir Mor, Pailan Mollah Kandi and Barakandi. The fishermen fled when they sensed the officials coming, but some of their nets were seized from the river bank and burned. Each of those detained was fined Tk 5,000, a total of Tk 25,000.

Zajira UNO Kaberi Roy said five people were detained for buying hilsa in breach of the ban and were then fined. The fish seized from them have been distributed to two orphanages.

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