MANIKGANJ, Oct 30, 2020 (BSS) – Mobile courts of Fisheries Department with
assistance of local administration awarded 72 fishermen different jail terms
and fined 29 others for catching Hilsha fish in Padma and Jamuna rivers
defying government-announced ban in the last 36 hours till this morning.
Preeti Kana Paul, Senior Assistant Director of Department of Fisheries,
Manikganj told BSS that 16 mobile courts conducted separate drives in the
river Padma and Jamuna of three upazilas -Harirampur, Shibalaya and Daulatpur
of the district.
During the drives, 59 fishermen were sentenced to one year, 11 fishermen
to 20 days and two fishermen to 10-day in prison and fined 29 others TK
1,40,000 for fishing hilsha flouting the ban.
The courts also seized 3 boats, 8.35 lac tonnes of current nets with 105
kilograms of Hilsha.
The seized hilsha fishes were later distributed among the local orphanages
and madrasas in the areas, sources said.
District Fisheries Office sources said they have been continuing the
drives in the river Padma and the Jamuna to prevent the catching of mother
hilsha during the government ban.