Hilsa being smuggled out to India from Bay

BARGUNA, Oct 12 (UNB): Dishonest fish traders are smuggling hilsa fish out to India from Bay defying the 11-day ban on fishing hilsa that started on Oct 6. Seeking anonymity some fishermen of Patharghata upazila on Tuesday said the trawlers loaded with hilsa fish leave for India at night from the Bay. The dishonest traders are selling hilsa fish to the Indian fishermen as an 11-day restriction was imposed by the Bangladesh directorate of fisheries on catching, selling and transporting hilsa - the favourite delicacy for Bangalis from October 6 to October 16 to ensure safe spawning as well as proper breeding environment for the mother fish. "The catching of hilsa fish during the spawning season has increased with the smuggling of the fish out to India that causes huge losses to the genuine fish traders", Shafayet Hossain, president of Patharghata fish wholesale samity said.