The government has imposed a ban on ilish catching, selling, transporting and hoarding for the next 22 days, from Wednesday midnight to protect mother Hilsa and ensure safe breeding.
The restriction will remain effective from Thursday to October 29.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Taskforce Committee on Hilsa Resource Development held at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Ministry of Agriculture recently.
According to the decision, transportation, storage, marketing, buying, selling and exchange of ilish will also remain prohibited across the country during the ban period.
The government will provide Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) food assistance to fishermen who refrain from fishing during the period.
Fishermen are starting to return from the deep sea to fish landing centres as the ban approaches.
In Chandpur, a 22-day ban on fishing has begun in a 70-kilometre stretch of the Padma-Meghna rivers in Chandpur to ensure the safe breeding of ilish and protect the country's national fish resource.
Ahead of the ban, many fishermen in Chandpur have already brought their boats and fishing nets ashore. While some are repairing their boats, others are busy mending damaged nets.
Meanwhile, district and upazila task forces have taken preparations to enforce the restriction.
It was found that fishermen preparing for the 22-day fishing halt while visiting different fishing communities from Wednesday morning to noon.
The areas visited included Anandabazar in Tarpur Chandi Union of Sadar upazila, Tilabari on Jamuna Road, Ranagowal and Dokanghar areas of Puran Bazar, Ramdasdi and Baharia in Laxmipur Model Union, and the fishing village near Harina ferry terminal in Hanarchar Union.
At Anandabazar, most fishermen were seen pulling their boats ashore, while some were repairing them. Similar scenes were observed at Baharia Bazar.
Fishermen in Ramdasdi were busy mending their nets while boat repair workers were seen working on several vessels near Harina ferry terminal.
Abul Kalam, 54, a fisherman from Anandabazar, said he had not caught much ilish in the river this season.
"I have already brought my boat ashore. I will put it back into the river after 22 days, depending on the availability of ilish," he said.
Khaleq Gazi, 52, a fisherman from Ramdasdi, said the government conducts the annual operation to protect mother ilish, but enforcement sometimes falls short because of inadequate planning.
"Patrolling should also be arranged in the canals connected to the Meghna so that unscrupulous fishermen cannot catch mother ilish," he said.
Idris Ali, a fish trader from Baharia, said traders were ready to cooperate with the administration and police to ensure the safe spawning of ilish.
Veteran fish trader Sirajul Islam Sayed of Harina fish landing centre said the fishing ban should begin at the river's mouth near the sea before reaching the sanctuary areas, because many mother ilish are caught there and subsequently sent to markets.
Chandpur Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said several coordination meetings had already been held to ensure enforcement of the 22-day ban.
"Awareness campaigns are being conducted in the Meghna coastal areas to warn fishermen against catching mother ilish," he said.
Chandpur District Fisheries Officer Md Fakhrul Islam said district and upazila task forces would conduct regular drives in the sanctuary areas under Chandpur's river boundaries to protect ilish during the breeding season.
"Anyone violating the law by entering the river for fishing will be brought under legal action," he added.
He further said 41,000 registered fishermen who have been instructed to refrain from fishing during the ban have already received 25 kilograms of rice each as government assistance.