RAJSHAHI, Oct 16, 2018 (BSS)- A mobile court here seized 14,000 meters
of current fishing nets and 15 kilograms of hilsha fish from different areas
in the Padma River under Paba upazila of Rajshahi on Monday.
The court, led by Executive Magistrate Tariqul Islam, conducted the
raids at different areas of the river and seized the current nets.
Simultaneously, legal action was also taken against 10 fishermen and four
boats. The fishermen were fined Taka 5,000 each.
Department of Fisheries is conducting the mobile court as part of the
nationwide ban on catching mother hilsha fishes.
District Fisheries Officer Shamsul Alam Shah said the seized nets were
burnt before public while the fishes were sent to a nearby orphanage.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,800 fishermen families were brought under special
VGF programme as they remained abstained from fishing Hilsha fish along the
bank of the river Padma in different upazilas in the district.
Beneficiary families are getting 20 kilograms of rice during the mother
hilsha fish conservation period from October 7 to 28.
Shamsul Alam Shah told BSS that the government has taken special
initiative to make the drive of conserving mother hilsha fish successful.
During the stipulated period, the fishermen families will remain abstained
from fishing hilsha fish. They are being given special VGF food grains.
Under the programme, each of the 1,800 families along the bank of the
river is getting 20 kilograms of rice in the district. Of them, 579 families
in Godagari Upazila, 493 families in Paba Upazila, 138 families in Rajshahi
City Corporation area, 279 families in Charghat Upazila and 311 families in
Paba Upazila are getting the support.
Alam Shah said distribution of rice among the families is going on. Rice
will be distributed among all families in phases.
Besides, drive is continuing in Padma River to conserve hilsha fish in
association with RAB, BGB and Police, he added.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Aminul Haque said 36 metric
tons of rice was allocated for the purpose.
Respective union parishads prepared the list of the families in their
areas and rice will be distributed with approval of the concerned UNOs,
Aminul added.
“We are hopeful about successful distribution of the VGF rice on time,”
said Alamgir Kabir, ADC (General).
Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader said instructions were given to the
Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) along with Project Implementation Officers
(PIOs) to distribute the rice to the beneficiaries.