The district and upazila task forces have arrested 61 fishermen for catching hilsa to protect mother hilsa in the Padma and Meghna river sanctuary area of the district during the ban period.

This information was given by the District Fisheries Officer`s office on Wednesday afternoon.

These fishermen were arrested in separate operations by the task force from October 4 to October 14 evening, said assistant fisheries officer of the district, Farhana Akhter Ruma.

During the ban period, 32 mobile courts and 213 operations were conducted in the 70-kilometre area of the sanctuary in the last 14 days. 15 landing centres, 137 fish ghats, 732 warehouses and 403 markets were inspected. 495 kg of hilsa and 2 lakh 42 thousand metres of net were seized, she said.

The estimated value of the seized net is Taka 59 lakh 21 thousand.

42 separate cases were filed against the 61 fishermen who were arrested and a fine of Taka 34,000 was also collected.

Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk said the campaign to protect the national resource Hilsa is continuing. We will remain firm till the end.