Photo : BSS

BHOLA, April 30, 2025 (BSS) - Fishermen in the district are set to resume 
Hilsa fishing as the two-month ban on catching, transporting and selling all 
species of fish is ending today. 

They are now working day and night to repair their nets and boats. 

Earlier, the government imposed a 58-day restriction with an aim to boost 
Hilsa production, leaving about 300,000 fishermen, including 170,243 
registered individuals, in the coastal area temporarily jobless. 

During the time, a 190-kilometer stretch of the river in Bhola was declared 
as a sanctuary for conserving Jatka (juvenile Hilsa). 

"This year's campaign has been successful," District Fisheries Officer 
Biswajit Kumar Deb said, adding that the ban is expected to increase the fish 
production in the river. 

During the ban, the government allocated 160 kilograms (kgs) of rice for each 
of 89,700 extremely poor fishermen. 

Biswajit Kumar Deb said, "We have, so far, received only March supply and 
89,700 fishermen have been given 80-kg of rice each." 

"As soon as April's supply arrives, we will distribute it among the 
fishermen," he added. 

The Fisheries Department has set a target of producing 185,000 metric tonnes 
of Hilsa this year.