Jumbangla Desk: The naval police arrested 55 fishermen in separate operations in the last 24 hours for violating the ban on hilsa fishing in Chandpur naval area. At this time, 137 kg of hilsa, 3 lakh 97 thousand 200 meters of current net and eight engine-driven fishing boats were seized from them.

Naval Police Chandpur Region Assistant Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Ahmed confirmed this information on Sunday morning.

According to Naval Police sources, 18 fishermen were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and eight people were fined 28,000 taka through the mobile court. Apart from this, 10 fishermen have been released on bail as they are minors. Five cases were registered against the rest under the Fisheries Act.

Naval Police Chandpur Region Assistant Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Ahmed said that the district task force's regular operation to protect mother hilsa is continuing. The Executive Magistrate, Naval Police, Coast Guard and Fisheries Department are conducting separate operations in the river 24 hours a day. Apart from this, seized fish were distributed to local orphanages and current nets were destroyed by fire.

The government has banned all kinds of fishing in the river for 22 days from October 13 to November 3 to protect mother Hilsa. If caught fishing in the river during the prohibition period, the person caught will be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of two years, a fine of five thousand taka or both. The operation of related administrations including the Fisheries Department and Naval Police is continuing to implement this directive.