Members of Coast Guard South Zone seized  138 maunds of jatka (hilsa fry less than 10 inches in length)  and other fishes  from two engine powered boats in Ramdaspur area of the Meghna river under Sadar upazila of the district Thursday.

The government has imposed a two-month ban on catching of all kinds of fishing in the Meghna River in the district from March 1 to April 30 to conserve mother Hilsa and Jatka during its high breeding season.

Acting on information that a  team of  Coast Guard South Zone conducted the drive in the area  around  4am and   seized  138 maunds of Jatka,  12 manuds of poa fish and 23 maunds of small shrimp fish after  searching  two engine powered  boats,  Lieutenant KM Shafiul Kinjal, media officer of Coast Guard South Zone said.

The government has banned all types of fishing including hilsa for two months from March 1 to April 30 in the 190 km area of the Meghna and Tentulia rivers in the district to protect Jatka.

According to District Fisheries Department, Hilsa production has increased due to proper government actions to preserve mother Hilsa, its breeding ground and the fries.

However, it was not possible to arrest anyone as the fishermen fled after sensing the presence of the Coast Guard, Lieutenant KM Shafiul Kinjal, media officer of Coast Guard South Zone said.

The seized Jatka and other fishes were distributed among poor people and different madrasas and orphanages in the district, he added.