65-Day Ban on Fishing in Bay from May 20: Minister

The Government will impose a 65-day ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal for the benefit of the national economy from May 20 to July 23, said Minister of Fisheries and Livestock SM Rezaul Karim.

The Minister said this when speaking at an online meeting conducted at the Secretariat on the enforcement of the ban.

“Catching all types of saltwater fish has been prohibited during the period (May 20-July 23). All commercial trawlers have been asked to abide by the ban,” he said.

Fisheries and livestock secretary Rawnak Mahmud, additional secretary Shyamol Chandra Karmakar, joint secretary Mohamamd Toufiqul Arif, representatives of Bangladesh Navy, Armed Forces, Bangladesh Police, and Bangladesh Coast Guard, DIG of River Police, DG of Fisheries Department Kazi Shams Afroz, divisional commissioners of Barishal, Chattogram and Khulna were, among others, present at the meeting.

“During this [ban] period, the fishermen who will refrain from fishing will get 40 kgs of rice per month,” he said.

“We want to ensure the production of more and more fish, and to make that happen, we need to implement the government’s order strictly,” the minister said.

Warning that there should be no negligence in this regard, he urged the official concerned to refrain from any misdeeds. "If there is an error in the performance of duties, it would be dealt with specifically. No one is going to be spared, "he said.

Source UNB