A task force team arrested 25 fishermen for catching jatka in violation of a government ban in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary area of Chandpur.
Of these, 19 fishermen were sentenced to different terms of imprisonment and six juvenile and minor fishers were released under the custody of their parents, Chandpur Sadar Upazila Assistant Fisheries Officer Md Mizanur Rahman confirmed the information on early Friday.
Chandpur Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Hedayetullah conducted the mobile court at Chandpur Station.
The fishermen were arrested from 7:00pm to 11:15pm on Thursday from Meghna River in Dasadi area of sadar upazila.
During the operation, seven fishing boats, 120,000 metres of nets, four behundi nets and 20kg of jatka were seized.
The seized current and behundi nets were destroyed while the fishing boats were in the custody of the coast guard. The jatkas were distributed among the local poor and needy, said Mizanur.
All types of fishing are banned in five sanctuary areas of the country for two months from March 1 to April 30 to increase the production of hilsa and protect jatka. There is a provision of a maximum of two years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 5,000 or both for violating the law.
