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Fresh ban on fishing

The 22-day restriction will end on Oct 30


October 10, 2019 00:00:00


NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 09: The government has imposed fresh ban on fishing at the Bay of Bengal for 22 days from today.

The fishing is banned at Bay of Bengal to preserve fish stock and ensure proper breeding and the ban will end on October 30.

Meanwhile, hundreds of fishing trawlers will remain idle at the shore of river Karnaphuli from today. Besides, thousands of fishermen will remain jobless due to the fresh ban on fishing for 22 days from today. The fishermen are frustrated for fresh ban and they alleged that all fishermen are not getting the help from government during this period.

Fishermen at Patenga, Sitakunda and Banshkhali alleged that they are not getting the government help during the ban on fishing. Besides, fish traders are also dissatisfied over the ban on fishing.

President of Chattogram Fishery Ghat Merchant Association said, "The government has imposed ban on fishing now. As a result, our fish trading is hampered in this season of hilsha."

Rabi Shankar Jolodas of Patenga said, "A ban on fishing was ended on July 23 last which was imposed for two months. Now, the government has imposed fresh ban again. How can the fishermen survive? How can they earn for their family?"

President of Fishing Trawler Owners' Association Nur Hossain said, "Hundreds of trawlers remain idle at the coast of Karnaphuli from today. The fishermen are passing their time by repairing the nets and boats now."

Srikanto Jolodas of Pathorghata said, "It is unfortunate that the government impose ban on fishing again. We, the Bangladeshi fishermen, cannot go for fishing, but the Indian and Myanmar fishermen always are fishing on the Bay of Bengal. Our coast guard cannot resist them."

Shyama Jolodas of Majhir Ghat area said, "More than 5,000 families of fishermen did not get government help during the last 65 days' ban. Moreover, the government imposed fresh ban in the current month. I urge the authorities to provide help to all fishermen during the ban."

Earlier, government gave 40 kilograms of rice to each family of fishermen at Patenga, Sitakunda, Mirerswari, Shandwip, Banshkhali, Anwara etc. But, more than 3,000 families of fishermen from the said area and Mohora and Karnaphuli upazila did not get the said help from the government as their names were not included in the list.

Cox's Bazar district officer of Department of Fisheries Dr Abdul Alim said, "The government used to impose ban on fishing at the Bay of Bengal in season of hilsha every year to preserve fish stock and ensure proper breeding."

Najim Uddin, assistant director of district fisheries department in Chattogram, said, "The fishermen who are listed used to get the government help during the ban."

Manjur Alam Bonik, inspector of fisheries department in Chattogram said, "The quantity of fishes is increasing significantly day by day due to the ban on fishing during the breeding season. Our fishermen are catching huge fishes every year. As per Rule 55 (2) of Maritime Fisheries Act 1983, the government used to impose ban on fishing to increase the fisheries in the sea."

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