Government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching hilsa from October 7 to October 28

The government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting of hilsa from October 7 to October 28 to protect safe spawning of the fish during its peak breeding period.

Md Iftekhar Hossain, Public Relations Officer of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, confirmed the information on Thursday.

Catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsa will be considered as an offence during the period and those who will violate the ban will get a minimum one year to two years in jail or be fined Tk 5,000.

Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country’s fish production as the single fish species.

Bangladesh produces the highest number of hilsa in the world -- more than 80%.

Every year, the government imposes a two-month ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsa to boost its production.