UNB, Dhaka :Current nets worth Tk 2052.48 crore and 20.912 tonnes of hilsa were seized in eight days since the 11-day ban on catching, selling and transportation of hilsa began on October 5, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque on Monday.During the period, a total of 708 mobile courts also fined fishermen Tk 25.197 lakh in different parts of country, he said.The minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after a meeting with members of Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh, River Police and officials concerned of the Fisheries Ministry at the secretariat.The government has imposed an 11-day ban on catching, selling and transportation of hilsa from October 5-15 across the country to ensure safe spawning and protect mother fish, said Sayedul.But some dishonest people have been engaged in catching, selling and transporting hilsa defying the ban. So, the government has taken action in different parts of the country with the help of law enforcement agencies, he said.Ministry sources said, a total of 708 mobile courts were conducting drives in seven divisions of the country. Some 20.912 tonnes of hilsa and nets worth Tk 2052.48 crore were seized while 565 fishermen were arrested and fined Tk 25.197 lakh during the drives across the country.The minister said the seized hilsas were distributed among different orphanages while the seized nets were destroyed. The law enforcers have been directed to detain those who are staying in the deep sea for catching fish, defying the ban while returning through Kanraphuli estuary and several points, the Minister said.Sayedul also claimed as the ministry took steps against the use of steroid and hormone injections to fatten cattle, people refrained from buying such animals during Eid-ul-Azha which caused huge losses to the cattle traders.
