UNB, Dhaka :The government has imposed an 11-day ban on catching, selling and transportation of hilsa from today (Sunday) across the country to ensure safe spawning and protect the mother fish.Sources at Fisheries Department said, since hilsa lays eggs in plenty during this period-Ashwin-Kartik, five days before and after of Baro Purnima-the government imposed the restriction on catching the delicious fish to preserve it.District fisheries officer Narayan Chandra Mandal said Fisheries Department has already carried out massive campaign, including using posters and banners, and holding discussions with fishermen and the authorities concerned, to make the ban fruitful one.District and upazila administrations, the navy, coastguards and law enforcers have been asked to make sure the restriction is being followed accordingly and take actions against the violators, he said.Mobile courts will also operate in rivers and at market places to ensure that no offender can defy the restriction.The mobile courts will fine the offender Tk 5,000 with one or two years’ imprisonment for violating the law for the first time.The leave of Fisheries department officials of 112 upazilas of 22 districts has been cancelled to make the government’s efforts to protect the mother hilsa successful.Local fishermen alleged that Indian fishermen often enter Bangladesh territory with big trawlers and catch hilsa even during the restriction period.They demanded necessary action in this regard through discussions between the governments of the two countries.
