In a bid to protect the safe spawning of the mother ilish, the Directorate of Fisheries has initiated a massive campaign in upazila and district levels ahead of a 22-day fishing ban.
This ban, which starts at midnight on Saturday, prohibits fishing in open water resources, including rivers and seas.
Every year, this ban is imposed between the new moon and full moon in the month of Ashwin to allow the ilish to spawn successfully.
During this critical period, catching, buying, and transporting Ilish is completely prohibited.
According to the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh produced 572,342 metric tons of Ilish during the fiscal year 2022-2023, with Barisal Division accounting for 372,342 metric tons—over 65 percent of the total production.
However, local syndicates led by influential figures, including former UP chairman Nazrul Islam Milon and Belal Molla, have reportedly become active in the vast maritime areas of Hizla, Mehendiganj, and Bhola during the ban.
After August 5, these syndicates were taken over by BNP leaders, who now control approximately 100 fish ghats, illegally catching Ilish and supplying it to various locations, including Dhaka.
Israiel Pandit, president of the Divisional Fishermen’s Association, highlighted the impact of these syndicates on the ilish market.
He said: “Prices for ilish will not decrease until fishing grounds are freed from their control, as they compel fishermen to catch ilish at low prices and sell them at a higher profit.”
“The ilish is particularly sensitive to environmental changes. Any disturbances, such as the creation of shoals or increased salinity in inner rivers, can alter their spawning routes in freshwater,” he added.
Abdur Rashid, an ilish trader from Mohipur, said: “While fishing has been halted in Bangladesh's rivers and seas, there is no corresponding ban on the Indian side of the border.”
He added: “This discrepancy allows Indian fishermen to exploit the situation and catch ilish, posing a threat to Bangladesh's fishing industry.”
Rashid called for a simultaneous ban on both sides of the border to prevent foreign trawlers from entering Bangladeshi waters.
Barisal District Fisheries Officer, Bimal Chandra Das acknowledged that weather conditions have affected the ilish catch this year.
He expressed optimism that enough mother ilish would spawn under favorable weather conditions and reiterated the commitment to conducting a massive campaign to protect the mother ilish during this critical period.