<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">River police arrested 28 fishermen on Saturday for violating a two-month govt ban on catching Hilsa in the Padma-Meghna river sanctuary area of Chandpur to increase the production of mother Hilsa and protect Jatka.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The arrested fishermen were from Haimchar and Sadar upazilas of Chandpur.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among the arrested fishermen, 28 were sentenced to one month's imprisonment, said Md Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The mobile court fined and cautioned five minors and released them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">River police seized about 12,50,000 meters of current nets, 3 fishing boats, and 117 kg of ‘Jatka’ from the fishermen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The seized 117 kg of jatka were distributed among the local poor and orphans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government imposed a two-month ban on catching jatka to increase the production of hilsa in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary under Chandpur, Shariatpur, Lakshmipur, Barishal, and Bhola districts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seventy kilometers sanctuary of Meghna in Sadar, Haimchar, Matlab North, and Matlab South upazilas of the Chandpur district are also under restriction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those who violate the ban are subjected to a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine of Tk 5,000, or both. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>