Mobile Courts in Patuakhali, Bhola and Barisal districts jailed and fined at least 70 fishermen yesterday and the day before for violating the on-going temporary ban on hilsa fishing.

At least 14 fishermen were jailed and 16 others fined by mobile courts in Patuakhali yesterday.

The temporary ban on catching and selling the fish for safe breeding started on Octobers and ifwill end on October 15.

Of the fishermen, 14 were punished in Rangabali, 13 in Kalapara and 3 in Dumki upazila, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

Md. Monirul Islam, OC of Rangabali police station, said they arrested 14 fishermen from Ramnabad River when they were netting hilsa at about 10:00 pm on Wednesday.

At about 10 am yesterday, they were sent them to the mobile court and the court fined Tk 10,000 each. All the

arrestees were also jailed on different terms, the OC said.

In Kalapara, 13 fishermen were fined for violating the ban. Of them, eight were fined Tk 5,000 each while five had to pay Tk 2,000 each.

Meanwhile, three fishermen were fined for netting hilsa on Paira River under the upazila on Wednesday night.

Dumki upazila administration also burnt 55,000 meters of current nets seized from Paira River on the day.

Thirty-three fishermen were arrested for catching hilsa, defying the government ban, in Daulatkhan, Tajumuddin, Lalmohan uapzilas of Bhola district on Wednesday.

Among them, 15 fishermen were sentenced to different simple jail terms through mobile courts. All of them were residents of Daulatkhan upazila, reportsUNB.

Police, Coastguard and fisheries department officials launched drive in the Meghna River in Daulatkhan upazila and detained 15 fishermen along with

13000 metres of current net and a boat.

Besides, 8 fishermen were held from Choumohoni point of Tajumuddin upazila and 10 others from Meghna and Tentulia Rivers of Lalmohon upazila.

Our Barisal correspondent adds: Seven fishermen were jailed while three others fined Tk. 1,000 each by a mobile court here for fishing hilsa on Sandhya, Arial Kha, Kirtankhola rivers defying the ban on Wednesday.

Sources said, at least 125 fishermen were jailed, 94 fined and 219 cases lodged till 6:00 am yesterday by 186 mobile courts for violating hilsa ban in Barisal division.

Aminul Haque, deputy directer of divisional fishery department and duty officer at the control room at Barisal said, the government imposed an 11-day ban on catching, selling and transportion of hilsa from October 5 across the country to ensure safe spawning and protecting the hilsa fish population.