Dhaka, Apr 07 (V7N) – Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar has called on the public to refrain from consuming panta hilsa during the Pahela Boishakh celebrations, stating that it is not part of Bangladesh’s traditional culture. The advisor made these remarks during a briefing on Jatka Conservation Week at the Secretariat on Monday.

She emphasized that jatka—the young hilsa fish—has been wrongly associated with the Pahela Boishakh feast, and consuming it in the name of hilsa is a clear violation of the law. Akhtar clarified that the tradition of eating panta hilsa, which has recently gained popularity in Dhaka, is not a practice observed across the country. Instead, she recommended that people enjoy greens, burnt chilies, and bharta during the celebrations, which are more aligned with the cultural practices of Pahela Boishakh.

The Jatka Conservation Week, aimed at protecting hilsa stocks, will begin on April 8 and run through April 14. During this period, Akhtar urged the public to conserve jatka and assured that there would be strict legal action against anyone involved in the illegal capture of young hilsa.

Additionally, she mentioned that efforts are being made to keep the price of hilsa fish affordable for the general public.

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