A mobile court, in a drive, arrested 10 fishermen and seized fishing boats and nets on Friday in the Padma-Meghna River sanctuary area of Chandpur for defying the government’s ongoing two-month ban on all kinds of fishing, including the catching of jatka (hilsa fry).
Later, the mobile court sentenced six of them to different terms of imprisonment; one fisherman was fined Tk5,000, and three fishermen were released as they were minors.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandpur River Police Station Md Kamruzzaman said a total of 10 fishermen were arrested with three fishing boats and 40,000 metres of nets during the drive in Padma-Meghna sanctuary area.
The Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner of the District Administration Md Asaduzzaman Sarkar conducted the mobile court, he said.
The government has imposed a two-month ban starting from 1 March on all kinds of fishing in the 70-km Padma-Meghna sanctuary area.
The prohibition, enforced by the district and upazila task forces, aims to preserve the aquatic ecosystem and boost hilsa production.