Dhaka, Apr 30 (V7N) — Hilsa fishing is set to resume in six districts of Bangladesh from Friday after the end of a two-month government-imposed ban aimed at protecting juvenile fish (jatka) and boosting overall production.

The ban, which was enforced throughout March and April, prohibited all types of river fishing to support conservation efforts for Hilsa. With the restriction now lifted, fishing activities have resumed along riverbanks, with fishermen preparing boats, repairing nets, and organizing equipment.

Around 300,000 fishermen in Bhola are preparing to return to fishing in the Meghna River and Tetulia River. A similar situation is observed in Chandpur, where more than 500,000 fishermen are waiting to resume operations. Fishing villages across these regions have seen a festive atmosphere ahead of the reopening.

However, fishermen have expressed concern over rising diesel prices, which may increase operational costs despite expectations of a good catch season.

Officials from the Department of Fisheries Bangladesh said that strict enforcement of the ban has helped increase jatka conservation, which is expected to boost hilsa production significantly in the coming season, potentially reaching around 500,000 metric tons nationwide.

Chandpur District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Fakhrul Islam said that the ban has been effective in protecting juvenile fish stocks. “We expect hilsa production to increase further in the next fiscal year,” he added.

According to official data, the total number of registered fishermen in Bhola and Chandpur districts stands at 221,422.

END/SMA/AJ