Killing Jatka during prohibited time

Jatka fishing has been banned for eight months to increase the production of hilsa in the country. But Jatka killing is going on freely in Padma without complying with the ban. And these jatkas are being sold in different markets of Golanda upazila of Rajbari. Jatka killing is not stopped because the district administration, fisheries department and police do not take strict action. It is feared that the target of hilsa production will not be met.

Officials of the Department of Fisheries said that in the Fisheries Conservation Act of 2003, the period of ban on catching jatka is set for 7 months from November 1 to May 31 every year. But due to variations in the breeding season of hilsa, the government extended the deadline by another month from April 2013 to June 30.

Catching, rearing, transporting and marketing jatka while prohibited under the Fisheries Preservation and Conservation Act, 1950 is a punishable offence. According to the law, hilsa of 10 inches or 25 cm size will be considered as jatka. Violation of this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment of at least one year to two years or with a fine of five thousand rupees or with both. At this time, the law will be enforced against those who collect, market and transport Jatka. Officials of Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, Police, District Administration and Fisheries Department will be involved in the implementation of this law.

Fishermen and fish traders are hunting and selling jatka in Goaland of Rajbari despite such strict guidelines for killing, marketing and selling jatka.

Jatka is being sold openly in Daulatdia Ghat market. But the distance from that market to Daulatdia Ghat Naval Police outpost is only 50 yards. But the police of that outpost is not taking any initiative to stop the sale of Jatka.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Farid Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Daulatdia Ghat Naval Police Outpost, said, "When the Fisheries Office conducts operations, we stand by them with their cooperation. Also, Naval Police also conducts immediate operations." After receiving the news, they did not see jatka being sold openly in the market near the outpost.

Some local fishermen said that the Daulatdia Naval Police has a special relationship with the fishermen. With their connivance, fishermen are openly poaching fish day and night. More than 150 boats are fishing every day. Local fishermen association leaders are also involved in this inaction. There is a risk of negative impact on the production of hilsa in the coming days.

The president of Daulatdia Fishermen's Cooperative Society has denied the allegations of being involved in the killing of Jatka. Ishaq Sardar.

At least 10 jatkas are being sold at the Daulatdia Ghat fish market on the banks of the Padma river last Friday from 6 am to 7:30 am. Jatka is being sold at Tk 230 to Tk 260 per kg depending on the size. Local fishmongers bargain and give to the highest bidder. About 20 kg to 40 kg of jatka is seen with each artaddar.

When asked about this, Subarna Ferdous, senior fisheries officer of the upazila, said, "We are fully aware of the Jatka killing ban. We have conducted an operation after receiving such information before, but we did not find it." Now I know, the operation must be done.

Rajbari District Fisheries Officer Md Moshiur Rahman said yesterday, I am now in the river. I have asked the naval police and my officers to conduct regular operations.