Fisheries and livestock Minister Abdur Rahman on Wednesday said the government will observe Jatka Conservation Week-2024 from March 11 to 17 to discourage the fishermen to catch the hilsa fry to boost its production

The minister said this while speaking at a press conference marking the Jatka conservation week at the meeting room in the Secretariat.

The fisheries and livestock minister said various programmes will be organized at the field, upazila and district level to observe the jatka conservation week over seven days.

This year's Jatka Conservation Week will be inaugurated on March 11 at Molehead premises of Sadar Upazila Chandpur and a boat rally will be held on the Meghna river on the day, he said.

"At present the Awami League (AL) government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated 40kg rice per month for the fishermen families. While a total of 10kg of rice per month was allocated for fishermen before AL government took power in 2009," he added.

The present government is not only enforcing laws to protect Jatka but it (government) has also increased the amount of VGF food assistance to fishermen during this fishing ban, he said.

The minister said that in 2023-24 fiscal year, the government has been continuing a VGF rice distribution programme, where 57 thousand 771 metric tons of rice is being given in 20 districts of 97 upazilas. As part of the programme, a total of 3 lakh 61 thousand 71 fishermen families are being given 40 kg of rice for 4 months.

The government is taking various measures, including jatka conservation week, to ensure availability of Hilsa fish for all.

Abdur Rahman, also Awami League Presidium Member, said the Fisheries Department under the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, concerned district and upazila administration, Navy, Coast Guard, Police, Naval Police, RAB, Ansar-VDP and BGB are working continuously for the conservation of Jatka (hilsa fry).