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DHAKA, June 13, 2025 (BSS) - With the end of almost two-month fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal, the people from the country's fishing community have started returning to the sea to catch fish.

The 58-day ban came to an end at midnight on Wednesday, paving the way for resuming fishing in the Bay of Bengal. Most of the fishermen were seen bidding farewell to their families after Jumma prayers today to go to sea in search of their livelihood.

Since Thursday, the fishermen had been gathering supplies, stockpiling their essential commodities and completing necessary preparations for their sea expedition. 

It was learned from the families of coastal fishermen that fishermen are already making final preparations to go fishing in the sea. Many went to sea on Thursday. Most of the fishermen will leave today after Friday prayers.

Like every year, this year too, the government had imposed a ban on fishing in the sea from April 15 in order to breed, conserve and increase 473 species of marine fish, including Hilsa. After 58 days, the ban on fishing was lifted from midnight last Wednesday. The waiting time of fishermen along the coast including Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Khulna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola is over. As a result, they are going to sea.

Meanwhile, the traders or the warehouse owners at the coastal fishing pier have also completed all their preparations. As soon as the fishermen would bring in the fish, they are preparing to buy and store it. Ice mills are being activated. The necessary ice is being loaded on the trawlers. Ice is also being stored at the pier.

Abdur Gafur, a 35-year-old fisherman from Cox's Bazar, said that he has been going to the sea since he was 20 years old. 

"God willing, I will go tomorrow (Friday) too. Special prayers will be offered at the coastal mosques during Friday prayers to protect the lives and property of fishermen at sea," he said yesterday.

Syed Alam, a fish trader at Teknaf Municipality, said, "The fishermen have finished repairing and cleaning the jetty. Now everyone is working on getting ice. About fifty fishing boats, small, large and medium, are preparing to leave this pier today, Friday." 

Each medium-sized trawler is spending at least Taka 30,000 to 1, 00,000 on oil, ice, and other essentials during this voyage. Large trawlers are carrying goods worth at least Taka 2, 00,000.