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Mahbub Sikder, a former member of the Harinathpur Union Juba League in Barisal’s Hijla Upazila, has been charged with hunting the Hilsa mother at least 10 points in the Meghna River, the sixth Hilsa shrine. There are allegations that everything from the capture and sale of hilsa is done through a union led by Mahbub Sikder.
A hali hilsa weighing a quarter kilogram caught illegally sells for Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600. As such, the price for hilsa is Rs 300 per kg. Before the start of the Hilsa campaign, a quarter kilo of Hilsa was sold for Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300.
Mahbub Sikder is known to control about 3 square kilometers of the Meghna River adjacent to the Harinathpur junction. Hundreds of tons of hilsa are hunted every day in at least 10 points of the 3 square km with the help of nets. The ban includes a strong union to manage fisheries officials, including hilsa hunt, sale, and police. Mahbub Sikder, a member of the Juba League, leads the union from behind the scenes.
Also earlier, a young man led by Mahbub Sikder was fed feces and urine. Additionally, he was not included on the union’s current committee due to various allegations.
Several Harinathpur Union fish traders and fishermen said, on condition of anonymity, that there was a strong union in the area led by Mahbub Sikder. Most of the union members are their family members. At the urging of union members, despite the banning of hundreds of unscrupulous and seasonal fishermen, the Hilsa mother is being hunted indiscriminately in the Meghna River adjacent to Badarpur, Gangapur, Tumchar, Charabupur, Asli Abupur, Charchowgaon, Aliganj and Nachokathi. These illegally caught yarns are sold openly and secretly.
According to the locals, Babul Sikder, Badal Sikder, Apu Sikder, Ziabul Sikder, Delwar Sardar, Kalu Sardar, Ripon Sardar, Alam Sardar, Razzak Sardar and some other local influencers are members of the union.
Union members work in three groups. A team took 500 rupees a day from a hilsa hunting trawler and gave it to Mahbub Sikder. The number of trawlers under their control ranges from 40 to 50. Another team oversees the buying and selling of hilsa.
The other team manages the police and fishing agents. In addition, the team had previously communicated the news of the operation to the river trawlers.
According to locals, hilsa is available at low prices at Guchhgram of Harinathpur, Hari of Krishnapur in Badarpur, Shaulagarh of Tumchar, Charabupur Ferry Pier, Asli Abupur Pitch Launch Road, Charchhaigaon, Headland of Kropchar and Gangapur areas . Hilsa is sold in the areas from 5 am to 8 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm every day.
According to the locals, Mahbub Sikder appeared in the area as a member of the ruling party. Nobody in the area dares to open their mouths out of fear of him. They have ups and downs with the police. They played a mysterious role even after reporting to the administration at different times during Hilsa’s murder on the river. Campaigns are often shown to people.
Some fishermen in the Badarpur area said, on condition of anonymity, that their family lives off the income earned from fishing. Previously, fishing was stopped for up to 15 days. It has now been extended to 22 days. But food aid did not increase. Trawlers and nets had to be purchased on credit. Those who lend are influential in the area. There are no other works in the area. Hilsa has to be hunted to lead the family under the pressure of debt.
They said more hilsa fish are being caught in the river today. Before, after waiting a long time to fish the nets in the river, two or four hilsas were caught. But at this time (during the ban) a lot of hilsa is caught if the net is held at certain points in the river for an hour. The size of the hilsa is also large.
They also said that we found out before the operation from the administration. Upon hearing the news of the arrival of his trawler, we set out safely. Also, most of our trawlers have more powerful engines than their trawlers. It moves much faster. They saw us fishing from afar, but we managed to escape before they were caught.
They said that there is no problem in selling hilsa. Common buyers take positions in various places along the river to buy fish. Also, there is now electricity in the village. Many people have a refrigerator at home. Some people have two or three freezers in their home. They bought us hilsa at a very low price and kept it in the fridge. Once the ban is lifted, they will sell the shares at a higher price on the market.
Also, there are some seasonal traders. They bought hilsa cheaply and dug a deep hole in the inaccessible coal and put it in a pig with ice. Once the ban is lifted, the hilsa will be sold on Mokam.
The fishermen said there were people to broadcast the news of the operation. Every day they earn 500 rupees from each trawler. They said the money was used to run police and fisheries officials with local influencers. The police threatened to arrest them if they did not pay.
According to fisheries experts, the most important initiative to increase hilsa production is the construction of sanctuaries. 7 sanctuaries in the country have played an important role in increasing Hilsa production. The Harinathpur point, the Dhulkhola point, the Nachokathi point and the Dharmaganj point of Hijla Upazila are under the sixth shrine.
During the breeding season, the hilsa mother leaves the salty water of the sea and rushes to lay eggs in the fresh water of the river. At this time the migration of mother hilsa to the sanctuaries increased greatly. The government has banned all types of fishing for 22 days from October 14 in sanctuaries for the smooth movement and reproduction of laying mother hilsa.
Not only that, the transportation, sale and storage of hilsa will be prohibited at this time. In such a situation, if a fisherman goes to the river in violation of the government’s ban, there is a provision of a jail fine that includes a case against him under the Fisheries Conservation Act.
When asked about the allegations, Mahbub Sikder said that two to two hundred and five hundred people were fishing at various points on the Meghna River in Harinathpur. But in the last few days I haven’t even gotten close to the river. Even then, a quarter are spreading propaganda against me. The accusations against me, including control and administration of the union, are unfounded.
Sheikh Bellal Hossain, in charge of the Hijla naval police outpost, said fishermen were hunting hilsa in some places. They left their nets in the river and left. Later he collected the net according to the opportunity. However, regular members of the naval police patrol the Meghna and its tributaries to protect the Hilsa mother. Several people have also been arrested.
He said that there are many remote areas on the Hijla upazila river. It took a long time to reach the trawler after receiving the news of the fishing. They were seen from a distance but fled before approaching. Using powerful motor-driven trawlers, they can’t keep up. During the operation, members of the naval police were also attacked.
Abdul Halim, Hijla Upazila Fisheries Officer, said: I have been in Hijla only for 18 days. Not all areas are known yet. We make periodic expeditions to the river to stop fishing for mother hilsa. However, due to the shortage of manpower and boats, they have to speed up surveillance or operations in the vast waters of the upazila. I keep trying as hard as possible.
Hijla Upazila Nirbahi (UN) official Bakul Chandra Kabiraj said those who violate the law are being jailed and fined by a mobile court for protecting the Hilsa mother. This campaign will continue.
Naval Police Superintendent of Barisal. Kafil Uddin said that the number of naval policemen has increased in some places in Hijla upazila after receiving reports of hunting from mother hilsa. A 24-hour patrol has been organized on the Meghna and its tributaries.
Zero tolerance is shown in the hilsa conservation campaign. The Hilsa hunters are listed as unscrupulous fishermen and helpers. The police are in a difficult position against those who break the law.
FA / PR
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