Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid on Tuesday said that catching of jatka should be stopped and the laws in this regard must be enforced strictly.
He called upon all, from fishermen to consumers, to come forward to conserve the Jatka to protect ilish, a national resource, for future generations.
He made these remarks at a program here to inaugurate "Jatka Conservation Week- 2026", where he attended as the chief guest.
The minister stated that ilish is a source of pride and heritage for the country.
He noted that during 1978-81, President Ziaur Rahman identified Hilsa as a key sector for earning foreign currency.
Later, in 2003-04, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia took effective initiatives to increase the ilish production and its conservation, he said.
He added that although ilish production once reached around 2 million tons, it had dropped to nearly 2,00,000 tons. However, due to the jatka conservation efforts, the production is now increasing again. If jatka fishing is completely stopped, ilish production could once more reach up to 2 million tons.
The minister mentioned that Chandpur is one of the main centers of the ilish production in the country, contributing nearly 80% of the total production.
However, compared to past abundance, ilish numbers have declined, mainly due to Jatka fishing. He stressed that catching a single juvenile ilish destroy thousands of future fish, making public awareness crucial for its conservation.
He also highlighted that the government is providing humanitarian assistance, including rice and oil, to fishermen with an estimated market value of around Tk6,500. However, he emphasized that responsible behavior from the fishermen is equally important alongside the government support.
Addressing the fishermen, the minister urged them to refrain from fishing for at least two months so that small ilish can grow larger and become more profitable in the future.
He further noted that ilish has now become an internationally recognized brand for Bangladesh. "ilish means Bangladesh", and maintaining this reputation requires collective efforts.
He expressed his hope that improving environmental management in the chars and natural habitats of Chandpur would further boost the ilish production.
The event was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Md Delwar Hossain. Member of Parliament (MP) from Chandpur-3, Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, Additional Secretary Syeda Nowara Jahan, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md Zia Haider Chowdhury, Director General of the Fisheries Research Institute Anuradha Bhadra, Deputy Commissioner of Chandpur Ahmed Ziaur Rahman and Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Rabiul Hasan and Administrator of the District Council Advocate AKM Salim Ullah Selim, were present at the function as special guests.
Jatka Conservation Week-2026, organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, is being observed in 20 ilish-rich districts across the country.
Alongside the central programs, various awareness activities are also being conducted in those districts and upazilas.
This year's theme: "If we stop catching Jatka, rivers and seas will be filled with Hilsa."
