Mohammad Masud Majumder:
Highlighting the importance of Jatka conservation, Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar said that ‘Jatka Conservation Week-2025’ will be celebrated across the country from April 8 to 14. She added, ‘If Jatka can be conserved, then Hilsa production will increase many times. If production increases, it will also have an impact on the market, supply will increase, and prices will also be under control.’
The advisor made these remarks at a press conference on the occasion of Jatka Conservation Week-2025 at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock this afternoon.
The advisor said that the interim government has taken an effective action plan to make hilsa affordable for the common people. In line with that, Jatka Conservation Week will be observed from April 8 to 14. He said that this year, the theme of Jatka Conservation Week has been set as ‘If Jatka fishing is stopped, hilsa will rise in nets’. Jatka is a small hilsa of 10 inches or 25 centimeters. Hilsa weighing one kilogram will be at least 40-50 centimeters and if it is more than 2 kilograms, it will be 60-62 centimeters. Jatka will be converted into hilsa through Jatka Conservation Week.
At that time, he said, 529,000 metric tons of hilsa were produced in the country in the past fiscal year 2023-24. The contribution of hilsa to the country’s total fish production is about 11 percent. The contribution of hilsa to the domestic GDP is more than 1 percent. More than 80 percent of the world’s total hilsa production is harvested from the rivers, estuaries and seas of this country. Bangladesh ranks first among the 11 countries producing hilsa.
The Fisheries Advisor said that the government is not only implementing the law to protect the jatka but has also greatly increased the amount of VGF food assistance for fishermen during this fishing ban. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, during the ban on jatka harvesting, 28,885 MT of VGF rice was distributed to 3,61,071 fishing families who had refrained from harvesting jatka in 4 months at the rate of 40 kg per month. During the main season of Hilsa, a total of 13,707 MT of VGF (rice) was provided as food assistance to 5,66,565 fishing families at the rate of 25 kg in the 2023-24 fiscal year to protect mother Hilsa. In addition to providing VGF assistance, various types of assistance including calf calves are being provided to fishermen according to their needs through the “Hilsa Resource Development and Management Project” to create alternative employment for fishermen.
Seeking everyone’s cooperation in protecting the Jatka, the advisor said, “Even if Hilsa fishing is stopped, the festival will not stop. Rather, this opportunity to raise awareness about protecting our heritage and natural resources can also be part of the big festival.”
The Fisheries Advisor said that according to Rule 3(1) of the Marine Fisheries Rules-2023, fishing of any kind of fish and crustaceans by all types of fishing vessels in the waters of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal has been banned for 65 days from May 20 to July 23 every year. As a result, there is a record increase of 12.78 percent in the fishing of marine fish resources. He further said that in view of this, a technical committee was formed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, which included university teachers specializing in marine fisheries science, scientists from the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, officials from the Department of Fisheries and representatives of various stakeholders. This committee, after verifying scientific information, recommended fixing the fishing ban period in the Bay of Bengal for a total of 58 days from April 15 to June 11. In view of this recommendation, the government issued a notification on March 16, 2025.
He said that by amending the Marine Fisheries Rules 2023, fishing by all types of fishing vessels in the Bay of Bengal has been banned for a total of 58 days from April 15 to June 11 every year for the conservation of marine fisheries and sustainable fishing.
The advisor said, “Eating panta-hilsa on Pahela Boishakh is not part of any culture. Those who live in Dhaka have introduced it. It is an imposed culture.” He urged people not to eat panta-hilsa on Pahela Boishakh this year.
It is worth noting that ‘Jatka Conservation Week 2025’ will be celebrated in 20 Hilsa-rich districts of the country (Dhaka, Manikganj, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Munshiganj, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Jhalokati, Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Feni, Noakhali, Chittagong, Bagerhat and Sirajganj). This year, the inauguration ceremony of Jatka Conservation Week will be held on April 8 at Bells Park in Sadar Upazila of Barisal district, one of the Hilsa-rich districts of Barisal division, and a boat rally will be held on the Kirtankhola River adjacent to DC Ghat in Barisal Sadar Upazila.
Also present at the time were Secretary (Routine Responsibilities) of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Tofazzel Hossain, Additional Secretary Md. Imam Uddin Kabir, Additional Secretary Amena Begum, Additional Secretary Syeda Nawara Jahan, Director General (Acting) of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf and senior officials of the ministry.
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