In order to protect mother hilsa during the busiest breeding season in three upazilas in the district, a 22-day government ban on capturing, selling, and transporting hilsha will take effect starting tomorrow, October 13.
According to District Fishery Officer (DFO) Md. Saifur Rahman, the ban would be in effect for 22 days, ending on November 3. “Mother Hilsha Conservation Campaign was being conducted through all three Upazilas of the district.
The government is providing VGF food assistance to the fishermen who will refrain from catching hilsa during the period,” the DFO said.
Under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program, the government has allotted 200 metric tonnes of rice to be distributed to 8,000 fishing households in three upazilas (Harirampur, Shibalaya, and Daulatpur) as food aid.
The concerned Union Parishad Chairman would handle the rice distribution among the grantees, according to the DFO. Each of the families of fishermen on the list will receive 25 kg of rice as part of the VGF program, he continued.
Bangladesh’s national fish, hilsa, is acknowledged as a patented product with certification. In Bangladesh, the marine fish flies to rivers to deposit its eggs.
The fish is very popular both in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.
The sources said, “Chandpur is considered one of the largest trading hubs of hilsa in Bangladesh as the fish from the Padma river is much more popular than the ones that come from other rivers because of its extremely pleasing taste.”
