22 fishermen jailed for catching hilsa defying ban in Chandpur

A mobile court has sentenced 22 fishermen to 12 days in jail each for catching hilsa in the Padma-Meghna river in Chandpur in violation of the fishing ban.

During the operation, authorities seized 25,000 metres of banned current nets, six fishing boats and five kilogrammes of hilsa from the fishermen, Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer confirmed this morning.

According to Assistant Upazila Fisheries Officer Mizanur Rahman, a drive was conducted from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Sunday to protect mother hilsa during the breeding season.

The operation was carried out in several areas of the Meghna River under Chandpur Sadar upazila, including Anandabazar, Lalpur, Kachikata, Chirachar, Harisabha, Ranagoal, Dokanghar and Baharia.

During the drive, 18 fishermen were detained from the Chirachar area and six from Dokanghar, bringing the total to 24.

At midnight, executive magistrates Nahid Iqbal, Md Rahmat Ullah and Tanvir Rabbi conducted a mobile court at the Chandpur Coast Guard Station. The court sentenced 22 fishermen to 12 days in jail each.

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The remaining two fishermen, who were minors, were released. The convicted fishermen are from Chandpur and neighbouring Shariatpur district.

Mizanur Rahman said the seized current nets were burned and destroyed in the presence of the executive magistrate. The confiscated hilsa was distributed to an orphanage, while the six fishing boats remain in Coast Guard custody.