The ongoing 22-day countrywide ilish ban has put around 700 fishermen in Dumuria upazila out of work. To make matters worse, they are not even able to avail the relief provided by the government for this period.
The government imposed the 22-day ban starting October 9 on catching, selling, and transporting ilish in a 7,000km breeding ground, to ensure safe spawning of the fish during its peak breeding period.
State Minister Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, had earlier announced that during the ban each fisherman’s family will be entitled to 30kg of rice from the government, under its vulnerable group feeding (VGF) program.
While the eight other upazilas of Khulna are getting their due government relief supplies, a number of fishermen in Dumuria were never even enlisted in the program.
Bidhan Biswas, president of Dumuria Fishermen’s Association, said: “When we sent a letter to the higher authorities in this regard, they made assurances of enlisting these fishermen by next year.”
According to the Upazila Fisheries Department, they have a list of around 5,100 fishermen, of them, 700 fishermen fish for ilish in the Bay of Bengal. However, since ilish spawning in rivers became the focus of attention in 2002, these fishermen and their circumstances have been overlooked by the authorities.
Bishnu Biswas, a fisherman from the Sharafpur-Taiyabpur area, said: "Most of the fishermen in other districts can avail government relief in a fishing ban, Dumuria fishermen are forced to work as day labourers to meet their expenses.”
District Fisheries Officer Abu Syed said: "Ilish were not usually found in the Bhadra, Ghaghara rivers until recently, so when the VGF enlisting commenced a few years back, the ilish fishermen in these areas were left out somehow.
"But we have contacted higher authorities about the matter and we hope fishermen will get relief from next year," he added.
Local fishermen say, with no aid coming in from the authorities they are sometimes forced to fish regardless of the ban to earn some money to support their families. But the consequences turn out to be severe, with them facing jail time and fines from law enforcement.
Sukumar Biswas, a Mathbaria resident, said: "Mukti Biswas, a fellow fisherman was arrested on October 14 for fishing in the rivers during the ongoing ban. The mobile court sentenced him to three days in jail and burned his nets."
Upazila Fisheries Officer Abu Bakkar said: “Mukti Biswas was arrested for using illegal net during fishing. Fishermen are allowed fish other fishes during this period as the ban only applies to ilish.”
