The High Court on Monday upheld the government’s order that imposed a 65-day ban on fishing in Bangladesh’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Bay of Bengal from May 20 to July 23 every year.
An HC bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Abu Taher M Saifur Rahman passed the order after rejecting a rule in this regard.
Barrister ABM Altaf Hossain argued for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Mokhlesur Rahman represented the state.
Talking to reporters, Mokhlesur said the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock published a gazette on May 20, 2015 imposing the ban in accordance with Section-55 of the Marine Fisheries Ordinance.
According to Mokhlesur, sea fish and shrimp harvesting through commercial trawlers have been propitiated in the country’s EEZ of the Bay of Bengal for 65 days from 20 May to 23 July considering the breeding of sea fishes and their conservation, after Sunday’s ruling.
However, the EEZ is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, extending seaward to a distance of no more than 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its coastal baseline.
Marine Fisheries Association president Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhury filed the petition with the High Court seeking the cancellation of the government order.
Later, the same HC bench stayed the effectiveness of the gazette and issued the rule asking the government to explain as to why the gazette should not be declared illegal.
The HC rejected the rule on Monday and provided the legality over the gazette in this regard.
