Starting from Sunday midnight, fishermen across the region will once again set out to catch hilsa, as the government-enforced 22-day ban on fishing, selling, and transporting the prized fish comes to an end.
The ban, which started on October 13, aimed to protect hilsa during its peak breeding season and boost future yields.
In preparation, fishermen from areas in Chandpur's Sadar upazila, including Raghunathpur, Harina, Ananda Bazar, Ranagoal, and Zafrabad, were seen repairing their boats and nets over the weekend. However, many voiced frustration over instances of illegal fishing during the ban in Munshiganj and Shariatpur, reporting that unauthorized catches could affect hilsa availability even after restrictions are lifted.
There were also concerns over the government's food assistance program with some fishermen saying the aid was insufficient in light of rising costs and their children's educational expenses.
According to the district fisheries department, approximately 50,000 fishermen, including 44,035 registered fishers from Shatnol in Matlab North upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila, will be resuming operations.
Chandpur River Police reported that 372 fishermen were arrested during the restriction period, with 602 drives conducted by task force members. A total of 239 cases were filed, and authorities seized 2.731 tonnes of hilsa and 1.75 million meters of illegal nets, according to Assistant District Fisheries Officer Farhana Akter Ruma.
