35 fishermen held for violating hilsa ban

Chandpur, Oct 17 (UNB): River Police have arrested 35 fishermen for violating the 22-day hilsa-catching ban imposed by the government.
The ban was imposed in the Padma-Meghna river sanctuary area of Chandpur to ensure the safe spawning of the national fish of Bangladesh during its peak breeding period.
The arrestee fishermen are from Chandpur Sadar upazila and adjoining upazilas, chars, and remote areas.
During the arrest, river police seized about 20,00,000 metres of current nets, seven fishing boats, and 105 kg of hilsha from the fishermen.
Md Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River thana, said law enforcers conducted a day-long operation (from 12:00 am to 5:00 pm) on Monday in the sanctuary area to protect mother hilsas and arrested 35 fishermen.
Earlier, on midnight Thursday, the government imposed a 22-day ban on catching hilsa fishing across the country.
The ban will remain in place until November 2.
Fishermen will not be allowed to catch fish in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary from Shatnal in Matlab Uttar to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur district.