Harvesting, transporting, marketing and selling Hilsa will remain prohibited from 8 to 29 October under the government-declared 22-day ban, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said at an awareness meeting in Shibchar, Madaripur on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
The State Minister said the ban must be strictly enforced at any cost to boost Hilsa reproduction and overall production, and directed the administration and law enforcement agencies to perform their duties so that no one can catch Hilsa during the period, said a press release.
He described Hilsa as a national asset and a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Bangladesh. Noting that Madaripur is a key Hilsa production region, he said fishermen would be the primary beneficiaries of increased production and urged the fishing community to view the 22-day restriction as an investment in their future prosperity.
Tuku reaffirmed the policy “The water belongs to those who own the nets” and said food assistance under the VGF programme is being provided to vulnerable fishing families during the ban.
Later, the State Minister distributed 25 kilograms of government-assisted VGF rice to each of 151 local fishermen’s families.
Madaripur Deputy Commissioner Morjina Akter chaired the programme, held at Charjanajat Elias Ahmed Chowdhury High School. Madaripur-1 constituency MP Sayeed Uddin Ahmad Hanjala attended as guest of honour.
Department of Fisheries Director General Md Khaled Kanak, Madaripur Superintendent of Police Md Fazle Elahi, Dhaka Division Fisheries Director Md Ahsan Habib Khan and District Fisheries Officer Prashanta Kumar Sarkar attended as special guests. Shibchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer H M Ibne Mizan, local political leaders and beneficiary fishermen were also present.
