2 months from 1st March to 30th April .The fisheries department of the government has imposed a 2-month ban on fishing in the Meghna and Tetulia rivers. 90 km from Elisha to Charpial of Meghna River and 100 km from Veduria to Char Rustom of Tentulia River will be covered by this ban. The Bhola Fisheries Department said that during the ban period, harvesting, buying and selling, storing and supplying any fish, including hilsa, will be prohibited. For this purpose, various activities including propaganda have been taken. According to the District Fisheries Department, appropriate measures will be taken against the fishermen if they try to kill the jatka hilsa by throwing nets in the river in violation of the law. Rice will be distributed as food aid to fishermen in order to prevent them from poaching. However, the local administration, coast guard and fisheries department are preparing to conduct an operation in the Meghna-Tetuliya river to jointly enforce the ban against those who hunt fish in violation of the ban, said those concerned.
Since 2003-04, the government has been implementing ‘Ma Hilsa Protection Program’ in October and ‘Jatka Nidhan Protection Program’ for two months in March-April. Other fish spawn in the river along with Hilsa spawning. The Fisheries Department is carrying out special campaigns in various areas including 132 fish landing centers of Bhola district so that fishermen do not go fishing in the river during this ban. Besides, various initiatives are taken by the government. But due to non-payment of loan installments and non-availability of alternative employment, fishermen are falling into fishing. Fishermen want alternative employment with stoppage of installments during the ban. Bhola District Fisheries Officer Molla Emdadulah said, if there is any irregularity in rice distribution, strict action will be taken. Monitoring system is being strengthened so that fishermen get proper rice. At the same time, he said, work is being done to bring transparency in the list of fishermen.
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