The Bhola District Fisheries Department has warned that it will be stricter in enforcing the government’s 22-day ban on fishing, imposed for the conservation of mother ilish during the breeding season.
In the two weeks till October 19, as many as 198 spots were raided and 61 cases were filed against the district’s fishermen, who have been in despair due to delays in the distribution of the “meager allocation” of the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice.
Moreover, mobile courts fined 66 people and 35 were sent to jail. The authorities also seized 3,987 metres of nets.
District Fisheries Officer Molla Emdadullah said: "Regular operations are being conducted on the river and cases are filed. We are in a tough position.”
Bhola, Barisal, Jhalkathi, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna, Noakhali and Lakshmipur districts are under the Coast Guard South Zone.
South Zone Media Officer Lieutenant KM Shafiul Kinjal said: “We do not have a fixed schedule for the raids. We launch operations at various river points in these eight districts by calculating tides.”
Dhaka TribuneOn October 15, two Naval Police officers were injured due to a clash with fishermen during a raid on the Meghna River. In light of the incident, 29 fishermen were arrested by the Naval Police and the district’s Fisheries Department.
Apart from the Meghna, operations are underway along various branch rivers, such as the Tentulia and Elisha rivers.
On the other hand, local fishermen complain that they were forced to go fishing sometimes due to a food crisis caused by the ban. And the delay in distribution of the government’s VGF rice by 13-14 days has worsened their condition.
Aid is inadequate and delayed
Yunus, Md Akbar, Md Mizan and Md Sohel, all of whom are fishermen from Bhola Sadar’s Tulatali and Ilisha areas, said they have not found alternative sources of earning and have been unable to buy daily commodities.
Many of them said they were facing trouble paying loan installments.
They also deplored the fact that, despite being involved in fishing for many years, they were not listed by the Fisheries Department.
“There is no alternative profession. You have to sit unemployed during the ban,” Md Sohel said.
Listed fisherman Rafiq Mia of Shibpur said: “Two weeks have passed, but we haven’t got the rice yet. I don't know when I will get it. I am in a lot of trouble with my family.”
Dhaka Tribune
Dhaka TribuneBhola district has 200,000 to 250,000 fishermen, and 157,256 of them are listed. But this year, 132,000 fishermen will get 25kgs of rice assistance due to lower allocations.
“The remaining 25,000 listed fishermen will not get rice,” said Fisheries Officer Molla Emdadullah.
“The assistance has reached 68 union parishad offices. The distribution may start in two or three days,” he added.
Conservation: Achievements and negligence
Hilsa catching, selling and transportation have remained prohibited in a 7,000 sq-km area under 20 districts during the peak breeding period when mother ilish come to the river to release eggs.
The districts' ice factories are also closed during the ban. However, fishermen in 18 districts can catch fish, except for hilsa.
The government enforces another fishing ban in March-April every year to save jatka ilish (fry less than 25cm long) and ensure their safe return to the sea.
On October 6, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said that hilsa production had doubled in the last 12 years. He also stated that the country had earned $13.6 million from an exceptional export of 1,352 tons to India this year.
Dhaka TribuneHe also warned that those violating the law would face legal action, including imprisonment and fines. “None will be spared,” said the minister.
Chairman of Shibpur Union Parishad Jasim Uddin said that he had started the distribution of rice among the registered fishermen.
“Everyone will get it in a day or two. Not all fishermen in my union are listed. Those who are enrolled will get the rice,” he added.
Nurul Islam, president of the District Fishermen's Association, said: “Bhola is a district surrounded by rivers and the sea. The main occupation of people here is fishing. During the ban, the listed fishermen are supposed to get 25kg of rice, which is not sufficient enough to run a family for 22 days.”
He criticized the government for depriving 25,000 of registered fishermen of the facility and not registering all the fishermen in the district, considering their economic hardship.
“Moreover, distribution has not started yet. It isn't very reassuring. It has happened due to the negligence of the authorities concerned,” he complained.
