Fishing ban in Kaptai Lake begins 24 April

Rangamati district administration has banned all kinds of fishing in the Kaptai Lake to ensure proper breeding, reproduction and the natural growth of released fish fry.

The decisions were made at a meeting between Kaptai Lake Management and Steering Committee president and Rangamati Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nazma Ashrafi, held at the conference room of the of the DC office.

According to the decision, all types of fishing, transportation, and marketing of fish in the lake will remain completely suspended from midnight on 24 April until further notice.

The meeting was informed that although fishing will remain prohibited from midnight on 24 April to 31 July, fish already caught may be landed at the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) ghats until 4pm on 25 April.

In addition, the process of releasing new fish fry into the lake will begin from 2 May.

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During the ban, regular patrols will be conducted jointly by the naval police and BFDC to prevent illegal fishing in the lake. 

Temporary checkpoints will be set up at key points, while mobile courts will continue their drives. The administration has warned that strict legal action will be taken against violators.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is implementing a humanitarian support programme in the 2025-26 fiscal year to assist affected fishing families in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts during the fishing ban in Kaptai Lake.

Under this programme, a total of 26,845 fishing families will receive 40 kilograms of rice each (20 kilograms per month for two months).

Additionally, an allocation of Tk375,830 has been provided to the deputy commissioners of Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts to cover transportation costs for food distribution at a rate of Tk350 per family.