A 22-day fishing ban begins in rivers tonight to conserve brood hilsa and boost its production.
The Barishal district administration will use drone technology in the 82-kilometre stretch of Meghna River in Hijla and Mehendiganj upazilas of Barishal to successfully implement the fishing ban.
To prevent fishers from fishing, the Naval Police and local fisheries officials will fly drones to conduct surveillance at the initiative of the Fisheries Department. This will make it possible to quickly identify those involved in catching fish and conduct operations.
At least four drones will be used at each surveillance point, and speedboats will be used to monitor the fishing ban, fisheries officials said.
Hijla Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mohammad Alam said, 鈥楲ike every year, fishers will not be allowed to go to rivers during the ban period to protect brood hilsa.鈥�
鈥楾he joint drive will continue at night as well. It is challenging to control the 82-kilometre area of the vast Meghna River, so drone technology is being used. The Coast Guard, Naval Police and RAB will jointly conduct the drives. If necessary, the army will also participate in it,鈥� he said.
Mehendiganj Upazila Fisheries Officer Omar Sani said: 鈥榃e have held an awareness meeting to protect the mother hilsa. A joint drive will be conducted with other forces through two speedboats. The drive will be led by three executive magistrates.鈥�
Barishal Naval Police Senior Assistant Superintendent Imran Hossain Molla said surveillance will be conducted using drones in Hijla and Mehendiganj areas.
District Fisheries Officer Ripon Kanti Ghosh said coordination has been made with the task forces of 59 unions rich in hilsa to prevent hilsa catching.
During the ban period, 66,524 fishers鈥� families will be given 25 kg of rice each.
In Manikgani, The government has allocated 244. 65 tonnes of rice under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme for distribution to the fishermen families of three upazilas鈥擧arirampur, Shibalaya and Daulatpur鈥攁s their food assistance during the fishing ban period.
The DFO official said a total of 9,786 fishermen families of the three upazilas of the district will get the rice. Each of the families will get 25 kilograms of rice per month, he added.
In Chattogram, over one lakh registered fishermen in Sitakundu, Anwara, Banskhali, Mosheshkhali, and Kutubdia, who rely on fishing Hilsa and other fish, will receive 40 kg of food aid each. Distribution is set to commence next week.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram,聽 Mohammad Kamruzzaman, urged fishermen to be patient and allow mother Hilsa to spawn safely to enhance future production.
Fisherman Kamal Uddin from the Banskhali area confirmed their compliance with the government鈥檚 ban, stating that they have already brought their boats and nets ashore.
Fish trader Abdur Rahman from Fringi Bazar Fish Market mentioned that while they are clearing out their fish warehouse before the deadline, some fishermen are still going to the river to earn income.
