Mother hilsa fishing continues in Patuakhali despite govt ban
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Despite the government prohibition, mother hilsa fishing is ongoing in the Tetulia River section of Dashmina, Patuakhali.
Alongside male fishermen, women are also catching fish using several trawlers. Although administrative drives are underway, hilsa fishing continues as nets are cast at various points along the river.
According to locals, five days have passed since the start of the 22-day ban aimed at protecting mother hilsa, yet fishing has not stopped in various areas of Dashmina. Fishermen are roaming the river in high-speed engine-driven trawlers across various points, including Bashbaria, Dhandhania, Golkhali, Katakhali, Auliapur, Rongopaldi, Patarchar, and Char Borhan. They are also bringing the fish to the riverbanks and selling them.
On Wednesday afternoon, an on-site visit to the river in the Bashbaria area revealed scenes of fishing, where fishermen were seen casting nets with trawlers at several locations. A few local fishermen alleged that in exchange for Tk 50,000, certain fishermen are being given the opportunity to cast nets in the river.
They noted hearing that those who pay the money are catching fish uninterrupted day and night, whereas ordinary fishermen face drive operations and suffer severe losses. Several fishermen shared that they are impoverished and forced to run their households on debt and failing to catch fish leaves their families in dire distress.
They said, “We do not oppose the law, but the law must be applied equally to everyone.” Locals demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations of allowing fishing in exchange for money, emphasizing that if the claims are proven true, action must be taken against those involved.
Dashmina Upazila Fisheries Department Deputy Assistant Fisheries Officer Md Amirul Islam added that several groups of female fishermen operating trawlers enter his work area from the northern end of the river to catch mother hilsa. These fishermen are primarily residents of the Bogi Bazar area under Kalaiya Union in Bauphal Upazila.
He noted that when officers attempt to detain those fishermen during drive operations, they create obstacles by threatening to throw small children into the river. Because fishermen are prevented from fishing freely in the river, false and baseless information is being spread against officials.
Meanwhile, Dashmina Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Mahmud Hasan Mridha said he is conducting drive operations in the river to protect mother hilsa. Directives have been issued to the river police, station police, and the Fisheries Department to work strictly in implementing the government prohibition. Several fishermen have already been detained, and nets along with trawlers have been seized.
