Jumbangla Desk: The government has completely banned fishing in the river for a total of 22 days from October 13 to November 3 as it is the main breeding season of hilsa. However, during the ban, seasonal fishermen are staying in secluded pastures to hunt hilsa while avoiding the eyes of the administration.

They are preparing hundreds of meters of current nets in the isolated places of Ragunathpur, Rahmpur, Alokdia Char of Shibaloy Upazila of the district amid the intense sun overhead and the roar of river water.

The current network was destroyed in the operation of the administration. Considering the campaign, they are weaving multiple current nets as a team.

These pastures can be seen, the Padma-Yamuna rivers flow over the two upazilas of the district, and hundreds of seasonal fishermen can be seen during the breeding of hilsa besides the fishermen of the riverside areas. Fishing is prohibited in the river for 22 days. Therefore, VGF rice is given to the fishermen as per the administration list. But during the ban, many people catch hilsa and sell it at a higher price.

At Ragunathpur Char in Teota Union of Shibaloy Upazila, several groups are preparing current nets for hilsa hunting. Now they are preparing as a team. If the administration destroys a net by carrying out an operation, they are making preparations so that fish can be caught with another net as an alternative. Seasonal fishermen are weaving fishing nets for hilsa fish in the grassy areas on the banks of the river under the cover of public eyes and administrative surveillance. There are four/five fishermen in each group, thus several groups are weaving current nets for hilsa hunting in secluded pastures.

From Jafarganj Ghat in Shibaloy Upazila, one has to go to Ragunathpur Char, which rises on the chest of Yamuna, by a 20-minute sea route by engine-driven boat. Some seasonal fishermen spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity.

The team leader of one of the small groups of fishermen said, I drive excavators in different parts of the country. Every year during the hilsa fishing ban, I take leave and return home to hunt fish. In continuation of this, I am coming this year as well. However, because of the strictness of the administration, there is a problem in making nets. So I am coming to Charar to weave the current net. So far several hundreds of meters of current nets have been constructed and more are being constructed. When we go fishing in the river, many times we have to run away from the raids of the administration. Then we were not found and the current nets kept in the river were taken and burnt. Now keeping those things in mind, I am making a few meshes according to the team. So that if one is damaged I can use the other.

Another young man said, I do various jobs including agricultural work throughout the year. But in this season I stay in the river to catch hilsa fish. If the forehead is good, I can sell fish for 3/4 thousand taka per day excluding all expenses. The fishermen of this area hunt fish all year round. In the next three to four days, a fair of hilsa fishing boats will be held in Yamunani. We sense when the administration comes during the day, because we have our own men on the banks of the river to warn us. If in doubt, warn. We have a budget for them. We give money or fish to each person. Since we are home in this area, we grew up here, so we know every bend of the river. Because of the administration's operation, we locals go fishing in the river after 10 pm and return home after selling the fish early in the morning. Early in the morning Alokdia forage fish sales are good. Some hilsa are sold around Jafarganj till 7 am. As far as there is news, fishermen have not come down to catch fish in any part of Yamuna. But will come down in two-four days.

Another seasonal fisherman said, I have been coming to Yamuna for fishing in this season for the past few years. Fishing in the river is not a problem. Because I manage everything. I ran into a problem a few years ago. Then the police had to pay 3000 rupees for each boat, we also agreed and paid the money. The raiding magistrates don't take money, the police took the money. Then most of those who paid, sunk the boat, seized the current net and took them away. The next day, when the police came again, the locals had trouble with several policemen. Later, people of various forces including RAB, Police, Ansar surrounded the entire Yamunani river due to the trouble. Many of us were running away in fear. However, this year, you will not have to be a victim of police harassment as before.

Local fishermen, on condition of anonymity, said government-registered fishermen do not go fishing in the river during the ban. As many of us are professional fishermen, every household in our area becomes a fisherman during Hilsa. This is because most households graze the land, grow crops and need boats to transport those crops. As every household has a motor boat, they catch fish during this time (when the mother hilsa hatches) for extra income. The local leaders established a good relationship with the seasonal fishermen and the police. It benefits all three parties.

District Fisheries Officer Saifur Rahman said, we have started the campaign, we have taken all kinds of preparations. This time, so that no one can hunt mother hilsa in the river, district-upazila administration, police and coast guard will conduct operations as per routine.