65-day ban on fishing in Bay of Bengal

The government on Sunday imposed a 65-day ban (from 20 May to 23 July) on fishing in the Bay of Bengal, aiming to boost commercial fishing in the country.

Catching all types of saltwater fish has been prohibited during the ban. All the commercial trawlers have been requested to abide by the government order, said Syeda Shirin Sultana Khatun, deputy director of fisheries and livestock ministry.

According to the ministry, the government since 2015 has imposed a periodic ban on fishing in the seas for creating a safe environment for aquatic or semi-aquatic mammals in Bangladesh's exclusive economic zone in the Bay of Bengal and for ensuring safe and sustainable accumulation of fish reserves.

Earlier, fisheries and livestock ministry issued a notification in this regard on 10 May.

Liton Das, president of Uttar Chattrala Coastal Jol-das Cooperatives Welfare Federation, said the government has imposed the ban without arranging any alternatives for 50,000 families dependent on the profession in the coastal region.

He also requested the government to reconsider the decision.