Jatka catching goes on defying ban

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PIROJPUR, Mar 13 (UNB): Indiscriminate catching and selling of hilsa fry 'Jatka' is going on in the district violating the government ban.

The government imposed ban on catching hilsa fry below nine inches and has been provided subsistence to the fishermen of the 10 coastal districts for four months from February to May to boost production. But the owners of wholesale depots are encouraging the fishermen to catch 'jatka'.

The government so far disbursed 274.56 tonnes of rice among 6,864 fishermen families in the district as food assistance to prevent them from catching jatka.

Each of the families is getting 10 kgs of rice per month like the previous years but the catching of jatka could not be stopped.

It was learnt that the mobile courts are not being conducted in the district since long against the violators of the government ban.

Admitting the situation, acting district fisheries officer Iqbal Hossain said that in the current season mobile court has not yet started.

The local people suggested that the drive against Jatka killing would be successful if coordinated steps are taken by the authorities concerned.