38 fishermen jailed for catching Jatka in Meghna

‎Bangla Press Desk:    A mobile taskforce detained 38 fishermen for catching Jatka (Hilsa fries) in the Meghna River sanctuary of Chandpur in violation of a government-imposed ban.

Of the detainees, 32 were sent to jail after a case was filed against them at the local River Police Station.

The remaining six detainees, including two who were ill and four minors, were freed after giving undertakings.

Chandpur Sadar upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said the drive was conducted from Wednesday afternoon to early Thursday across several points of the Meghna River – from Akhoner Haat to Bohoria.

During the drive, the taskforce detained the fishermen while catching Jatka.

It also seized two fishing boats, around 5,000 metres of illegal current net and approximately 20 kg of Jatka.

Officials from the upazila fisheries office, including Assistant Fisheries Officer Md Mizanur Rahman, along with members of Chandpur River Police, took part in the drive.

Most of the accused fishermen are residents of char areas in Chandpur Sadar upazila and reportedly cited financial hardship as the reason behind engaging in illegal fishing.