Fishermen have started fishing in Bay and river after the ban. After being closed for 60 days, the fishermen will start their journey in the deep sea with a trawler to catch hilsa from midnight on Saturday. That is why trawler owners, fish traders and fishermen of Bhola Tajumuddin are busy preparing for the last time.
Fishermen were seen repairing fishing trawlers as well as preparing nets at various wharves on the banks of the Tajumuddin Meghna in Bhola. Some are loading fishing equipment, supplies and food items into trawlers.
Rahmat Majhi, a fisherman from Katakhali area of Tajumuddin, said, “Fishing in Sagar river was stopped for last two months, none of us went fishing. I have spent my days in trouble with my family by borrowing money. Now the ban is over so I am preparing to go to sea. There are 15 fishermen in our fishing trawler. Everyone has made all kinds of preparations to go fishing.
Another fisherman Chandan Das said, “I have been making a living by fishing in the river for 10 years. We follow that rule when fishing is stopped. I have complied again. We had to spend a lot of time in it. I hope I can make up for the loss by getting the desired amount of fish.
Mofizal Majhi, Rajib Majhi and others said the same thing. They said, after spending idle time, now we will go to the river. The ghats will also freeze ‘. He is hopeful that they will overcome the scarcity and uncertainty. With the end of the ban just before Eid, we hope that we will be able to spend Eid in a good way with our families by settling old accounts by fishing in the river.
Md. Hashem Mahajan, President of Tajumuddin Upazila Fisheries Storekeepers’ Association, said that fishermen have spent 60 long days in hardship. However, they did not go fishing in the river in defiance of the ban. I hope the fishermen will be able to hunt hilsa again. Upazila Fisheries Officer Amir Hossain said fishermen in the upazila are very aware. They have complied with the ban.
Besides, VGF government incentive of 40 kg per month for 4 months has been given to 18,512 fishermen registered during the ban period. In the first phase 60 metric tons of rice has been given for 11 thousand jails and in the second phase 784 metric tons of rice has been given among 9,800 jails. This time the operation to save hilsa has been 100% successful, the fishermen will be able to return to Sagar river from midnight on Saturday.