A group of fishermen allegedly attacked a team conducting an operation to protect mother hilsa fish in the Padma River in Jajira Upazila, Shariatpur District, Bangladesh. Two security personnel were injured in the incident, and 41 fishermen were arrested, according to the district fisheries department.
The incident occurred at around 9:00 am on October 19 at Kalikal Char in the Padma River, within Palerchar Union. The operation began before dawn under the leadership of Saeed Ahmed Islam, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) member of parliament representing the Shariatpur-1 constituency, which includes Shariatpur Sadar and Jajira. Members of the Coast Guard, police, local administration and fisheries department participated in the operation.
According to Bishwajit Kumar Dev, the Shariatpur district fisheries officer, the operation team found fishermen gathered at Kalikal Char, a remote sandbar, with boats, fishing nets and other equipment. When the team attempted to seize the fishing gear left along the riverbank, a group of fishermen returned armed with bricks, stones, sticks and locally made machetes and attacked the operation team’s boat.
The attack forced the operation team to retreat. Additional river police and two army teams later arrived at the scene and joined the operation, after which the attackers fled. During the operation, which lasted from 4:00 am until noon, authorities arrested 41 fishermen and seized a motorized boat, 300,000 metres of illegal current nets and 30 kilograms of mother hilsa fish.
Saeed Ahmed Islam told The Daily Star that he had received complaints alleging that fishermen were violating the ban on catching mother hilsa with the assistance of a local broker network that allegedly bribed or otherwise influenced officials and relevant authorities. He claimed that most of those involved were not registered local fishermen but outsiders brought in from other districts.
Islam said he personally joined the operation to verify the allegations. He added that although the 41 detainees identified themselves as fishermen, authorities had found no evidence to support their claims.
He further alleged that a local syndicate had hired fishermen from other districts and brought them to the area. Specific allegations had also been raised against the Majhirghat and Sureshwar river police outposts over claims that officials were being influenced to allow illegal fishing. Islam said he had asked the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and take departmental action against anyone found responsible.
Islam added that his objective was not merely to arrest fishermen but also to counsel them and raise awareness about the importance of conserving fish stocks.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh imposed a 22-day ban starting October 8 on fishing, selling, transporting and storing hilsa to protect the fish during their breeding season. However, local authorities have reported that illegal fishing and trading continue in some areas along the Padma River.
Source: Bangladesh media
