The 22-day government ban on hilsa fishing is set to expire at midnight on Thursday, but coastal fishermen in Bagerhat face renewed uncertainty due to turbulent weather caused by Cyclone Arnab.
Although fishermen have completed preparations to venture into the Bay of Bengal after the long break, the rough sea has created a new obstacle on the very first day.
With fishing halted for weeks, fishermen, trawler owners, fish wholesalers (ardatdars), and moneylenders (mahajans) face mounting anxieties over household expenses, trawler maintenance, loan repayments, and the looming threat of forest and sea pirates.
Preparations were underway across fish markets, fishermen’s quarters, and landing centres in Sharankhola upazila on Wednesday despite the prevailing concern. More than 50 fishing trawlers were anchored at the Sharankhola Fish Landing Centre ghat, where crews loaded provisions, fuel, and essential equipment while ice mill workers prepared ice blocks for the voyages.
Fishermen explained that while they spent the ban period repairing nets and renovating trawlers, venturing into the tempestuous sea remains unsafe, leaving them waiting at the ghat until weather conditions normalise.
The delay exacerbates financial strain on wholesalers and trawler owners, who invest heavily in advance loans (dadan) for fuel, food, and gear using earnings from previous seasons. Inability to fish increases their financial burden and leaves investors struggling to recover previous outlays, often forcing them to take on additional debt.
Md Kabir Howlader, a fish wholesaler in Sharankhola who invested over Tk1 crore in seven to eight trawlers, reported that his fish sales dropped from Tk3 to 4 crore last season to just Tk1 crore this year. Having borrowed funds to finance his fleet, Howlader is now under severe debt pressure and plans to send his trawlers out on 2 and 3 November if weather conditions improve.
Local fishermen, including Jalil Howlader and Rafiqul Islam, noted that the loss of regular income during the ban forced them to borrow money for daily living costs. They had hoped to go to sea on the first day to earn money and pay off debts, but the adverse weather has disappointed them.
Furthermore, the fishermen alleged that despite working at sea for 10 to 15 years, many genuine fishermen are deprived of government food aid during ban periods, while non-fishermen improperly receive benefits.
Trawler owners Shahidul Islam, Belayet Khan, and Halim Boyati highlighted that staying idle at the ghat delays anticipated income while increasing operational expenses.
In addition to financial losses, fishermen and moneylenders expressed grave concern over pirate attacks in the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal, fearing hostage-taking, ransom demands, and the looting of fish and supplies.
Sharankhola Trawler Owners’ Association President Md Abul Hossain said that resuming safe fishing and recovering past losses remain major challenges, demanding strict operations by the government and law enforcement agencies to eradicate forest and sea pirates.
Sharankhola Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Anjan Biswas noted that while adverse weather presents an initial hurdle on the first day, fishermen can expect a good catch once fishing resumes. Biswas added that higher authorities will coordinate with law enforcement agencies to take effective steps against pirates to ensure uninterrupted fishing in the sea.
