An extensive nationwide prohibition on the capture, sale, and distribution of jatka has commenced today with the aim of enhancing the hilsa fish population, the country’s symbolic fish species. The ban, announced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, will be upheld until June 30 next year. Any activities involving jatka, which are juvenile hilsa measuring less than 25 centimeters, are deemed unlawful under the current legislation. Breaching the ban may lead to a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 5 lakh, or both, as stipulated by the law. Fisheries authorities have emphasized that individuals engaged in illicit jatka fishing or trading will face severe consequences, with stringent legal measures set to be implemented. To ensure strict compliance, coordinated operations will be carried out by district administrations, the fisheries department, Coast Guard, and river police in rivers and coastal regions. Kamrul Islam, the District Fisheries Officer of Patuakhali, affirmed that synchronized enforcement efforts will persist to safeguard jatka effectively.
