Despite the government’s ban on hilsha fishing, many fishermen along the banks of the Padma River in Madaripur are ignoring the restrictions. From dawn until dusk, hilsha sales are taking place with crowds of buyers flocking to the area.
Numerous boats are engaged in catching hilsha in various spots along the river, including Shibchar’s Kazi Sura, Nepal’s Ghat, and other regions of the Padma’s riverine areas. This illegal fishing continues day after day, disregarding the administration’s directives. The ban on catching mother hilsha is being violated, which is in direct breach of the law.
While the authorities have been carrying out regular raids to protect hilsha stocks, the fishermen’s defiance remains unabated. Many have already been fined, and large quantities of illegal fishing nets have been destroyed. However, despite these measures, illegal hilsha fishing continues unabated in the Rajbari area of the Padma River.
Recent reports indicate that from 3 October to 25 October, hilsha fishing, selling, transporting, and preserving has been completely prohibited across the country. However, the illegal fishing continues across an 80km stretch of the Padma River.
Temporary markets have sprung up in several locations where hilsha is being sold, with prices ranging from Tk 400 to Tk 1,500 per kg. In some places, these hilsha are being sold through open auctions.
Fishermen Akkash Ali shared, “We are given some relief, but it is not enough. We are from river erosion-affected areas, and we fish for hilsha despite the risks.”
