Rangamati, Apr 21 (V7N): The district administration of Rangamati has imposed a comprehensive ban on all fishing, transportation, and marketing of fish in Kaptai Lake to ensure safe breeding and natural reproduction of fish species.

The restriction will come into effect from midnight on April 24 and will remain in force until further notice, according to an official decision taken at a meeting held on Monday at the District Commissioner’s conference room.

The meeting, organized by the district administration, was attended by government officials, representatives of law enforcement agencies, and leaders from the fishing community. Authorities said the seasonal ban is a regular measure aimed at protecting fish during their breeding period, ensuring sustainable growth of aquatic resources in the lake.

Officials emphasized that the initiative is expected to boost fish production in the long term while improving the sustainability of livelihoods dependent on the lake’s fisheries.

District Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi said the restriction is crucial during the breeding season and urged all stakeholders to comply with the rules. She warned that strict legal action would be taken against violators.

To enforce the ban effectively, authorities plan to conduct widespread public awareness campaigns through loudspeaker announcements on both waterways and roads. Mobile courts will also be deployed regularly in the lake area, along with intensified patrols by law enforcement agencies to prevent illegal fishing activities.

Senior Scientific Officer Ishtiaq Haider of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute said that halting fishing during the breeding season allows fish stocks to regenerate naturally, significantly increasing long-term production.

The government will also provide food assistance under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program to registered fishermen affected by the ban, aiming to reduce economic hardship during the restriction period.

Officials including Foyez Al Karim, Abu Md Dilwar Hasan Inam, Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, and District Fisheries Officer Mizanur Rahman were also present at the meeting.

Kaptai Lake, the largest artificial freshwater reservoir in Bangladesh, is subject to annual seasonal fishing bans, which play a vital role in conserving fish resources and maintaining ecological balance.

END/AMR/SMA/