The River Police has detained 97 fishermen for violating the two-month ban on catching ilish fry – imposed by the government – in the Padma-Meghna river sanctuary area of Chandpur to increase the production of ilish and protect jatka (fry).
Among them, 54 were held on Wednesday and 43 on Thursday.
River Police officers also seized a huge amount of gill nets, fishing boats and jatka from the fishermen.
Most of them were sentenced by mobile courts, and some were sent to jail after filing cases, Superintendent of River Police Mohammad Kamruzzaman said.
He said: “We are active in implementing the government ban. The River Police saw fishermen catching jatka in different areas of the two rivers. Later, they were arrested along with nets and fishing boats.”
The drive will continue till April 30, Kamruzzaman added.
The government has banned all types of fishing during the two months of March and April in six sanctuaries. At this time, stocking, transportation, and sale of jatka are banned.
