22-day Hilsa fishing ban to begin Saturday

Chandpur and five other sanctuaries across Bangladesh will see a 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing starting tomorrow (Saturday, October 4), aimed at protecting the species during its breeding season. The ban will remain in effect until October 25, with authorities completing all preparations to ensure strict enforcement.

Despite the peak season, catches have been low, leaving fishermen frustrated and prompting demands for an extension of the ban.

Mother Hilsa typically spawns around the full moon of Ashwin. To boost national Hilsa production, the government has prohibited all fishing activities—including collection, transport, storage, and sale—within six sanctuaries from October 4 to 25.

In Chandpur, the restriction covers a 70-kilometer stretch from Satnal in Matlab Uttar Upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar Upazila.

The ban, however, leaves many fishermen unemployed, raising concerns over family livelihoods. They have urged the government to increase support and suspend loan repayments during the period. One fisherman said, “Suspending loan installments during the operation would greatly help the people.”

This season, Hilsa numbers remain low in rivers and the sea, particularly in Bhola. Fishermen have requested a reconsideration of the ban, noting that the breeding period has yet to begin.