RAJSHAHI, Oct 28, 2020 (BSS) – A team of the river police seized 2.25 lakh meters of fishing net worth about Taka 67.5 lakh from different areas in the Padma river under Paba upazila of the district on Tuesday.
The police team accompanied by other officials including Upazila Fisheries Extension Officer Mahmudur Rahman conducted frequent raids in different areas and seized the huge quantity of nets.
The team also seized one kilogram of brood Hilsa fishes during the drives. However, none could be arrested as they fled away leaving behind their nets.
“The fishermen were catching fish using the current nets, which are banned for fishing,” Assistant Superintendent of Police Belayet Hossain said, adding that all the law-violators will be brought to book as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the seized nets were destroyed instantly. The seized fishes were distributed among the inmates of a nearby orphanage.
A 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting of Hilsa came into effect from October 14 to protect the fish with eggs. The ban will be effective until November 4. This is the peak period when the mother Hilsa releases eggs.
Some 4,000 fishermen families received 80 tonnes of rice under special vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme in Rajshahi city and four upazilas in the district.
The fishermen families were brought under a special VGF programme so that they remain abstained from fishing mother Hilsa fish in the river Padma here.
Abdul Jalil, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi, said Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country’s fish production.
Under the special VGF programme, 1,265 fishermen will get 25.3 tonnes of rice in Godagari Upazila, 960 fishermen to get 19.2 tonnes in Paba Upazila, 825 fishermen to get 16.5 tonnes in Bagha Upazila, 560 fishermen to get 11.2 tonnes in Charghat Upazila and 390 fishermen will get 7.8 tonnes of rice in Rajshahi City Corporation area.