Dhaka, Oct 12 (V7N): A 22-day ban has been imposed on all fishing activities, including Ilish, in the Padma and Meghna rivers. This prohibition starts at midnight on Saturday and will remain in place until November 3.

The restriction covers a 100-kilometer stretch of the Meghna River, from Shatnol to Char Alexander, including the Raipur area in Lakshmipur. Fishermen caught fishing or selling Ilish during this period risk facing up to two years of rigorous imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk5,000, or both.

Over 50,000 fishermen living along the banks of the Padma and Meghna rivers are preparing to pull their boats and nets ashore during the ban. Many are expressing concerns about how they will support their families during this period, urging the government for additional financial assistance and food support.

Mustafa Bepari, a fisherman from Nayapara in Charbanshi Union, Raipur, shared his frustrations, saying, "Some fishermen don't follow the government's orders. We won't be able to fish for 22 days, but nobody seems to care how we will survive with our families."

He added, “The rice provided by the government is not enough; we need other essentials too. How will we manage those expenses?”

Another fisherman, Mainuddin, echoed these concerns: "We manage our households with loans and installment payments. We can't even afford our children's education. No one seems to understand our struggles, and this forces many fishermen to go back to the river. We don't need the government's rice."

Mohammad Abu Kawsar Didar, a scientific officer at the Chandpur River Center, mentioned that favorable conditions for Ilish spawning are present this year, as in previous years.

Rajib Chandra Biswas, the Deputy Commissioner of Lakshmipur, stressed that the Ilish fishing ban will be strictly enforced. "Strict measures will be taken against any fishermen who enter the river during the ban," he said.

During the ban, 993.75 tons of VGF rice will be distributed among 39,750 registered fishermen's families in Lakshmipur district. This includes 143.75 tons for 3,750 fishermen in the district headquarters, 425 tons for 17,000 fishermen in Ramgati, 280 tons for 11,200 fishermen in Kamalnagar, and 145 tons for 5,800 fishermen in Raipur.

Although Lakshmipur district has a total of 54,060 registered fishermen, they are distributed across different areas: 7,729 in the district headquarters, 25,091 in Ramgati, 12,938 in Kamalnagar, and 7,698 in Raipur.

END/MSS/AJ