Despite a government-imposed 22-day ban on fishing, trading, transporting, and storing hilsa, open sales of the fish continue along the Meghna River markets in Matlab North upazila of Chandpur. Local residents fear the widespread sale of mother hilsa during the breeding season will severely affect the species’ reproduction.
The ban, which runs from October 4 to October 25, aims to protect spawning hilsa in designated sanctuary areas. However, reports from multiple riverbank markets in the upazila indicate that the ban is being openly flouted.
During visits over the past two days, mother hilsa were seen being sold openly in several markets, including Beltali, Kalipur, Babubazar, Dashani, Borchar, Charkashim, Janata, Aklashpur, and Anandabazar. While some vendors attempted to hide their sales, most were trading in full view, with sellers loudly calling out prices as though no restrictions were in place.
Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, president of the Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee, expressed disappointment at the fisheries department’s negligence in enforcing the ban. He said such irresponsibility undermines national efforts to protect hilsa breeding grounds.
Local market committee leaders reported that, unlike in previous years, the upazila fisheries department did not hold coordination meetings with market authorities before the ban took effect. Several union parishad chairmen also stated that no awareness meetings were held this year with local fishermen, as had been customary in earlier campaigns.
Many residents said they were unaware of the fishing restrictions due to poor publicity this year. A hilsa buyer at Borchar Market, who requested anonymity, said, “My mother-in-law came to visit, so I bought two kilograms of hilsa. I didn’t know there was a ban.”
Matlab North upazila is home to more than 9,000 fishermen and around 30 local markets of varying sizes. Many in the fishing community said they had not been informed of the ban, warning that this lack of awareness could lead to a decline in hilsa reproduction.
When contacted, Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das said, “We are trying our best and conducting drives. We hope the situation will improve soon.”
