22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins

To protect mother Hilsa during the main breeding season of Hilsa, a government ban on Hilsa fishing, storage and transportation has come into effect across the country from midnight on Friday (October 3). This ban will remain in force till October 25. The concerned district and upazila task forces have already made all preparations to implement this government ban. Awareness campaigns are being conducted on the coast under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner.
During this ban, about 6,20,000 fishermen families in 165 upazilas of 37 districts of the country will be given 25 kg of rice as assistance from the government.
Meanwhile, an Hilsa fair was held under the Hasamdia flyover of Bhanga Municipality in Faridpur the night before the ban came into effect. Thousands of people from Bhanga and several nearby upazilas thronged there to buy Hilsa. Buyers said that the price of fish here is slightly lower than the market. As a result, they are happy to buy their favorite Hilsa. Talking to shopkeepers, it is learnt that this time 1 kg of hilsa is being sold for 2,000 to 2,200 taka, 500 grams of hilsa is being sold for 800 to 1,000 taka and 250 grams of hilsa is being sold for 550 to 600 taka.
This night hilsa fair is held once a year, where silver hilsa is sold all night long. According to shopkeepers, 80 to 100 tonnes of hilsa are sold here in one night.
The government conducts such campaigns every year to protect mother hilsa during the breeding season. The Fisheries Department has said that this rule will be strictly enforced this time too.