Battling the rough waves of the Bay of Bengal, facing wrath of nature, occasional pirate attacks, and burden of debt, the fishermen of Char Fassion upazila in Bhola remain trapped in a cycle of poverty. Despite all challenges, they risk their lives venturing into the deep sea to catch fish, simply to ensure they can eat three meals a day.
In addition to these struggles, fishermen have to face various government-imposed restrictions throughout most of the year. Now, as the hilsa season begins along the coast, a new fishing ban will come into effect from midnight on April 14, lasting for 58 days until June 11. Previously, this ban in Bangladesh’s maritime territory of the Bay of Bengal used to run from May 20 to July 23.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a circular revising the duration of fishing ban in the Bay from 65 days to 58 days. The revision has been made to align the timing more closely with neighboring India, where a similar ban exists.
The reduction of ban period by seven days has brought relief to fisheries researchers, fishermen, and fish traders.
Jayanta Kumar Apu, Senior Fisheries Officer of Charfassion Upazila, explained that to ensure fish breeding, growth, and sustainable harvesting, the governments of both India and Bangladesh enforce a fishing ban during specific times of the year. In Bangladesh’s waters, this ban had typically lasted from May 20 to July 23, a total of 65 days. Meanwhile, in India’s waters, the ban spans from April 15 to June 14, totaling 61 days.
Sohag Shikder, President of the Upazila Fisheries Team, pointed out that due to Bangladesh’s longer ban period, Indian fishermen would enter Bangladeshi waters during the 39-day gap and catch fish in the coastal Bay of Bengal areas near Charfassion, the Sundarbans, and Kuakata. With both countries now enforcing the ban simultaneously, such incidents are expected to be prevented.
According to the Marine Fisheries Ordinance, since 2015, Bangladesh has enforced a 65-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal every year. Initially, this restriction applied only to industrial trawlers. However, since 2019, all types of fishing vessels have been included under the ban. During this period, spanning from May 20 to July 23, hundreds of thousands of coastal fishermen have faced severe hardship.
Discussions with fishermen from the southern coast of Charfassion reveal that they also endure a 22-day ban during the hilsa spawning season, an 8-month ban on catching jatka from November 1 to June 30, a two-month sanctuary ban in March and April, and the 65-day sea fishing ban. Altogether, they were subject to fishing restrictions for 147 days annually. With the new decision, this has been reduced by eight days, making the total 139 days of fishing bans.
Azzi Patowary, President of the Charfassion Samraj Fish Landing Center, said, “We are happy with the government’s new decision. Now we expect proper implementation of this ban.”
Rahim Majhi and Rashed Majhi, fishermen from Dhalchar along the Bay of Bengal coast in Charfassion, shared their prolonged suffering due to the 65-day ban. Rahim Majhi said, “We tie stones to our stomachs and refrain from fishing, while fishermen from the neighboring country intrude into our waters and catch fish. Neither the fishermen benefit from this nor does fish production increase. We are ready to endure hardships if it benefits the country. We want both countries to impose fishing bans at the same time.” This year, the ban schedule has been revised in accordance with the fishermen’s demands to match India’s timing.
Expressing satisfaction with the government’s new decision, Shahin Malta, President of the Charfassion Upazila Marine Fishermen Trawler Owners’ Association, said, “We have long been demanding reconsideration of this ban. It had left the sea and rivers nearly fishless. Fishermen were suffering terribly, and our businesses were on the verge of collapse. Although it took a long time, we are very pleased with this government decision.”
Meanwhile, fishing trawlers have started returning to shore in preparation for the upcoming ban. Rahman Dalal, General Secretary of the Charfassion Samraj Fish Landing Center, reported that there are 785 registered sea-going trawlers at this dock, most of which have already begun to return. Likewise, many trawlers at Mahipur and Alipur in Patuakhali have also come back to shore.
