22-day ban on catching, selling hilsa from 9 Oct

The government will impose a 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsa between 9 and 31 October to ensure the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period, reports UNB.

State minister for fisheries and livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru came up with the information while talking to reporters after a meeting at the secretariat on Sunday.

"We will provide food assistance to the fishermen during the ban period," he said.

Those who will violate the ban will be sentenced one to two years imprisonment or fined Tk 5,000 or both through mobile court drives to be conducted at local markets, wholesale markets and fish ghats across the country, he added.