ZCZC
BSS-27
DETENTION-FISHERMEN-HILSA
22 fishermen jailed, fined for defying Hilsa fishing ban
BHOLA, Oct 16, 2020 (BSS) – Mobile courts assisted by law enforcement agencies today jailed and fined 22 fishermen for catching mother Hilsas defying the government ban from different rivers across the country.
The mobile courts conducted drives in the Meghna and Tetulia rivers from Thursday night to Friday morning and detained 22 fishermen for catching mother Hilsas illegally.
Fisheries Officer of Sadar Upazila Md Asaduzzaman told BSS that 12 fishermen were awarded jail for 1 year and fined four others Taka 5,000 each for defying the Hilsa ban.
He said eight fishermen were arrested from the Meghna River in Majherchar and Rajapur areas. Mobile court magistrate and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mizanur Rahman sentenced four each to one year imprisonment and fined four others Taka 20,000 for defying the Hilsa ban.
Besides, law enforcement agencies conducted a drive in the Meghna and Tetulia rivers at Morhanuddin and arrested 14 fishermen, said Fisheries Officer of Morhanuddin Upazila Nazmus Salehin said.
He said the fishermen were punished for illegally catching Hilsa.
The fisheries officer said members of law enforcement agencies conducted drives in Meghna and Tetulia rivers from dawn to dusk on Friday and detained the fishermen.
The government imposed a 22-day ban on catching, selling, storing and transporting Hilsa from October 14 to 4 November to ensure safe spawning of the fish.
BSS/CORR/SAS/KU/1936 HRS