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Naval police have detained 17 fishermen for allegedly catching mother hilsa in violation of a government ban in the Meghna River and its tributaries in Hizla upazila of Barishal district.
During the operations, authorities seized approximately 61,000 metres of prohibited current nets used for fishing.
Seven of the detainees were minors. They were released into their families’ custody after providing written undertakings, while eight cases were filed against the other detainees. Legal proceedings are underway to send them to jail through the court.
According to Hizla Naval Police, separate operations were conducted at various points along the Meghna River from 11pm on Thursday, October 8, to 6am on Friday, October 9, and again from 7am to 7pm on Friday. The fishermen were caught red-handed during the drives.
Hizla Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Mahfuzur Rahman and Hizla Naval Police Officer-in-Charge Md Yasinul Haque confirmed the incident.
Yasinul Haque said local fishermen and political leaders had been urged to refrain from catching mother hilsa during the ban period. He added that enforcement operations would continue to protect the country’s fisheries resources.