Bangladesh bans fishing in Padma-Meghna river sanctuary for two months. Loktej World News

Dhaka, 29 February (HS). Bangladesh banned fishing in the Padma-Meghna River Sanctuary for two months. This ban will be effective from Friday. This sanctuary extends for 70 kilometers. This move of the government will affect 43,000 registered fishermen in Chandpur.

This ban will be applicable on fishing of all types of fish including Ilish (Hilsa) in Padma-Meghna Sanctuary. Padma river joins Meghna river in Chandpur district. After this Meghna joins the Bay of Bengal in Bhola district. Meghna is the river with the widest channel among the rivers flowing within the borders of Bangladesh. It is 12 kilometers wide at a point near Bhola. Hilsa fish is one of the few species of fish with unusually delicate flesh. This sanctuary extends from Shatnal in Uttar Pradesh sub-district to Charbhairabi in Hamchar sub-district.

District Fisheries Officer Golam Mehedi Hasan said that 40 kg food aid per person will be given to fishermen for two months from March 1 to April 30. The task force includes executive magistrates. Strict action will be taken against fishermen violating the ban. Fishermen from areas like Anand Bazar have expressed concern over the ban. Chandpur river police station in-charge Kamruzzaman said that the river police has made all preparations to implement the ban. Tanjimul Islam, senior fisheries officer of Chandpur Sadar sub-district, said that if any fisherman disobeys the law, strict action will be taken.