Random Ilish catching is continued in different rivers in the coastal areas, defying a government ban on its catching during the peak breeding period from October 15 to 24.
The government imposed a ban from September 25 to October 9 on catching, selling and transporting hilsha in the coastal areas to ensure the safe spawning of this popular fish during its peak breeding period.
On the first day of the ban period on Friday, fisheries officials with the help of police seized 12 maunds of netted Ilish fry on a road in Patuakhali district.
In Chandpur, two mobile courts on Sunday jailed eight fishermen in separate incidents of violation of the on-going temporary ban on Ilish catching.
Mosharof Hossain, sub-inspector of Chandpur River police outpost, said police arrested two fishermen – Mohammad Arif, 22, and Leyakat Hossain, 25 - from the Meghna river in Harina Ghat area of Sadar upazila at noon.
Later, they were produced before a mobile court led by executive magistrate Mohammad Rashed which sentenced them to one year’s imprisonment each.
In another drive, police arrested six fishermen - Mohammad Hossain,
35, Nekmat Hossain, 45, Ruhul Amin, 46, Ali Hossain, 18, Mohammad
Hasan, 18 and Nayan, 32 - from Char Bhorabi area in Haimchar upazila around 5pm, said Omar Faruk, sub-inspector of Chandpur River police outpost.
When the arrestees were produced before a mobile court led by executive magistrate Mohammad Saiful Islam, it sentenced them to one year’s imprisonment each.
In Bhola, at least 31 fishermen were arrested for flouting the ban.
Of them, a mobile court gave one-year imprisonment to 29 fishermen.
According to local sources, a team comprising Coast Guard and Fisheries department personnel conducted a drive at different points in the Meghna River and arrested 31 people.
Later, they were produced before a mobile court which gave 29 of them one-year imprisonment.