16 jailed for defying ban on catching hilsa

Sixteen fishermen were jailed in Chandpur and Faidpur yesterday on charge of hilsa fishing defying a 22-day ban imposed by the government from October 12.

A mobile court in Chandpur yesterday sentenced five fishermen to two years' imprisonment and two others to one year for catching hilsa during the ongoing ban period, reports our correspondent.

Md Karuzzaman, an official of Chandpur Coastguards, said they detained two fishermen with five thousand metres of current nets on Saturday.

In another drive, police arrested five fishermen from Mohanpur area of Chandpur the same day, said Alamgir Hossain , officer-in- charge of Matlab Police Station.

In Faridpur, a mobile court here sentenced nine fishermen to 20 days' imprisonment for catching hilsa in the Padma river defying the ban, reports a correspondent.