Hilsa ban: 10 fishermen arrested, sentenced to jail terms in defiance

Ten fishermen were arrested and sentenced to different jail terms for catching Hilsa defying the government-imposed ban at Tulatuli and Bhola Khal in Meghna River area under Bhola district on Wednesday.

The arrestees are Asgar, Yusuf, Mamun, Kaiser, Rafik, Sagir, Kamal, Farid, Nuruddin, and Noman.

A joint team of Coast Guard and Fisheries Department raided the two places and arrested the ten seizing 50 metres of current net and 40kg of Hilsa fish, reports a news agency.

Later a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Abdul Mannan and Ruhul Amin sentenced Asgar and Yusuf to one year jail each. The eight other fishermen were fined Tk 50 thousand each.

The recovered Hilsa fishes were distributed in a local orphanage.