Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid spoke today in the Jatiya Sangsad session. Photo: Video Screenshot

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today told the parliament that the government will ensure fish sanctuaries in rivers, beels and canals across the country to protect natural breeding grounds and restore fish resources.

The initiative also aims to restore the traditional abundance of fish in Bangladesh’s water bodies, he said.

The Minister said this while replying to a supplementary question from ruling party lawmaker Anisur Rahman (Madaripur-3) during the question-answer session.

The Minister said that the government has already taken steps to protect fish during breeding seasons and will expand conservation measures in freshwater bodies, including haors, beels and canals, by declaring designated areas as fish sanctuaries where fishing will be prohibited during breeding periods.

He said hilsa fishing remains banned across the country during the breeding season, particularly during egg-laying periods, usually for about two months, to ensure proper reproduction of the species. During this period, hilsa fishermen are provided with free rice so that they do not suffer financially.

The minister added that the fishing ban is being extended beyond hilsa to include certain areas of rivers and even marine zones where fish breed in low-depth waters, as catching fish during spawning seasons destroys fish eggs and threatens various marine species.

Responding to the question about whether similar restrictions would be imposed in haors and freshwater wetlands, he said the government has a clear plan to implement seasonal fishing bans in freshwater bodies as well to protect natural breeding cycles of fish.

He noted that many indigenous freshwater fish species such as shing, taki and boal are now rarely found due to destruction of natural breeding grounds. 

“To address this, the government is taking initiatives to create protected sanctuaries in wetlands and water channels so that fish can take shelter, lay eggs and multiply naturally,” he added.

Amin Ur Rashid also expressed hope that the initiative would help restore the country’s traditional fish wealth and ensure rivers that  beels and ponds are once again filled with fish in the future.