The cultivation of Manipuri Hilsa is prohibited in the country

Dhaka: The government has ordered measures to be taken in this regard by prohibiting the production and cultivation of so-called ‘Manipuri Hilsa’ fish fry that have entered Bangladesh.

The Fisheries Department recently sent a letter to all district fisheries officers to protect the uniqueness of the hilsa and prevent adulteration.

According to the Department of Fisheries, 80 percent of the world’s hilsa, which is unmatched in taste and smell, is found in the rivers of Bangladesh. There is a great demand for silver hilsa in Bangladesh and in the country. However, like Hilsa’s unscrupulous clique, ‘Manipuri Hilsa’ is alleged to produce fry or eggs in different districts. It is called ‘Manipuri Hilsa’ or Pengba as it is grown in the Manipuri state of India.

Recently, the Mymensingh District Fisheries Department sent a letter to the Director General of the Fisheries Department to take action on this species of fish, authorities said. In this context, the department ordered to take action on ‘Manipuri Hilsa’.

The letter, signed by Azizul Haque, deputy director (Fisheries) of the Fisheries Department, said that a species of fish called ‘Manipuri Hilsa’ had entered the country illegally from other countries and was being raised producing fingerlings in hatcheries. The Mymensingh District Fisheries Department has already fined a private hatchery for illegally producing fingerlings of fish through a mobile court.

The letter further stated that according to Sections 8 and 9 of the Hatchery Act 2010, live fish, pollen fingerlings and fingerlings cannot be imported without permission from the Director General or an official authorized by him. Furthermore, according to Section 9 of the Fisheries Quarantine Act 2017, no fish, fishery products, beneficial germs or packaging products can be imported into Bangladesh without an import permit. In this situation, the district fisheries officers have been instructed to take legal action if a hatchery of fish occurs in a hatchery below this area and to take the necessary measures so that the culture of this fish does not spread in any pond or farm.

To increase the production of hilsa, it is prohibited to catch hilsa from October 14 to November 4.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sham Rezaul Karim told a press conference that we want to bring back the abundance, flavor and availability of Hilsa to Bangladesh. This year, more than 80 percent of the total hilsa produced in the world has been produced in Bangladesh. The size and flavor of the hilsa is much better than other years. Government assistance has also been provided to fishermen during the ban on hilsa protection.

Bangladesh time: 0218 hours, October 18, 2020
MIH / YES