B Mirror Report: The government has announced a two-month ban on fishing all types of fish, including hilsa, in the Padma and Meghna rivers starting from midnight Saturday to increase hilsa production and conserve young hilsa, locally known as jatka.

The restriction will remain in effect from March 1 to April 30. During this period, fishing, selling, transporting, or storing fish in the designated river stretches is strictly prohibited. Authorities have warned that violators will face strict legal action.

District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Fakhrul Islam said a nearly 70-kilometer sanctuary has been established from Satnal in Matlab Uttar Upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar via Chandpur Sadar. Around 47,000 registered fishermen will refrain from fishing during the ban.

To support affected fishermen, 39,400 of them will receive VGF rice assistance—40 kg per month for four months (February to May), totaling 160 kg per person.

However, some fishermen along the Meghna riverbank expressed concern that the food aid is insufficient to support their families and urged the government to provide additional cash support during the ban.

Chandpur Sadar Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said district and upazila task forces will enforce the ban and conduct mobile courts against illegal jatka fishing.

Naval Police SP Syed Mosfiqul Rahman added that river patrols will remain active throughout the ban period, and offenders will face legal action under fisheries laws.

District Administrator Md Nazmul Islam Sarker called on all stakeholders to cooperate in conserving jatka, while hilsa researcher Dr. Anisur Rahman emphasized that protecting young hilsa today will ensure higher hilsa production in the future.