A mobile court, in a drive, arrested 10 fishermen, seized fishing boat and nets on Saturday from various areas of the river of Padma-Meghna sanctuary area of the district for defying the government’s ongoing two-month ban on all kinds of fishing including catching of jatka (hilsa fry). 

Later, the mobile court sentenced six of them to different terms of imprisonment, one fisherman was fined Taka five thousand and three fishermen were released as they were minors. 

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Chandpur River Police Station Md Kamruzzaman said a total of 10 fishermen were arrested with three fishing boats and 40,000 meters of nets during the drive from the river of Padma-Meghna sanctuary area. 

Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner of the District Administration Md Asaduzzaman Sarkar conducted the mobile court and sentenced six fishermen to different terms of jail and fined one fisherman with Taka 5000, he said. 

The government has imposed a two-month ban starting from March 1 on all kinds of fishing in the 70-km Padma-Meghna sanctuary area. 

The prohibition, enforced by the district and upazila task forces, aims to preserve the aquatic ecosystem and boost hilsa production.