River police arrested 27 fishermen on Friday for violating a two-month government ban on catching Hilsa in the Padma-Meghna riverine sanctuary in Chandpur.
The arrested fishermen were from Shariatpur, Chandpur Sadar, Matlab Uttar and Munshiganj upazilas.
Among the arrestees, 24 were sentenced to one month's imprisonment, said Md Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station.
Three fishermen were released to the care of their families as they were minors.
During the drive, the law enforcers seized about 500,000 metres of electric nets, 8 fishing boats, and 39 kilograms of 'Jatka' (baby Hilsa) from the fishermen.
The seized Jatka were distributed among the local poor and orphans.
The government imposed a two-month ban on catching jatka to increase the production of hilsa in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary under Chandpur, Shariatpur, Lakshmipur, Barishal, and Bhola districts.
Seventy kilometres of the sanctuary of Meghna in Sadar, Haimchar, Matlab North, and Matlab South upazilas of the Chandpur district are also under restriction.
Those who violate the ban are subjected to a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine of Tk 5,000, or both.
