To protect the Jatka, all types of fishing have been banned in the 70-kilometer area from Shatanl in Matlab Uttar Upazila of Chandpur to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar Upazila of Meghna River for two months from midnight on Friday. The ban was announced in a circular issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. A campaign to protect the Jatka is also starting in the Meghna from tomorrow to enforce the ban.
According to sources from the Matlab North Upazila Fisheries Office, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has recently issued a circular banning fishing for hilsa and jatka in the 70-kilometer area from Shatanol in Matlab North Upazila of Chandpur to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar Upazila of Meghna River for two months from midnight today to April 30. In addition to catching jatka, it also prohibits the sale, marketing, transportation and storage of jatka. The circular also states that punitive action will be taken under the Fisheries Act if fish caught in the Meghna River in violation of the ban.
Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das said that a drive to protect the Jatka will be launched in the Meghna from tomorrow, Saturday. The local fisheries office, administration, naval police and coast guard will conduct this drive. Fishermen have been made aware in various ways so that they do not disobey the ban and cast their nets to catch fish in the Meghna. Several awareness meetings have been held with fishermen, fisherfolk and public representatives in Ekhlashpur, Mohanpur, Kalakanda, Amirabad and several other areas of the upazila. Festoons and banners have been put up at various places.
Micking has also been done several times. Even after this, if fishing in the Meghna is carried out in violation of the ban, punitive action will be taken against the violator under the Fisheries Act.
Fisheries officer Bijoy Kumar Das further said that there are 9,022 registered fishermen in his upazila. Out of these, 7,465 people will receive VGF rice under the Jatka protection program. Each fisherman will receive 40 kg of rice. They will receive this food assistance for four months until next May.
Source: Prothom Alo
