|| Chandpur Correspondent: A mobile court has sentenced 22 out of 24 fishermen arrested for fishing Hilsa in the Padma-Meghna rivers of Chandpur in violation of the ban. During the arrest, 25,000 meters of banned current nets, 6 fishing boats and 5 kg of Hilsa were seized from the fishermen.This information was confirmed by the office of the Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer on Monday (October 19) morning.The fishermen who were sentenced to prison are Rifat (25), Russell Khan (26), Delwar Hossain (60), Sujan Gazi (30), Idris Ali (35), Nazrul Bepari (28), Monir Miji (28), Shahid Gazi (29), Delwar Hossain Molla (60), Jahangir Bepari (35), Selim Fakir (30), Md. Nazrul (30), Kamal Bepari (34), Liton Beg (45), Mainuddin (47), Nayan Sharif (18), Nizam Prodania (36), Md. Russell (30), Monir Bepari (28), Mohammad Hossain (19), Russell Gazi (25) and Md. Iqbal (22). These fishermen are from Chandpur and neighboring Shariatpur districts.Sadar Upazila Assistant Fisheries Officer Mizanur Rahman, who participated in the operation, said that under the overall supervision of the district and upazila senior fisheries officers, an operation was conducted in the Ananda Bazar, Lalpur, Kachikata, Chirachar, Harisaba, Ronagoal, Shatgarh, Bahria areas of Sadar Upazila on the Meghna River from 4 pm to 10 pm on Sunday (October 18) to protect the reproduction of mother Hilsa. During this time, 18 fishermen were arrested from Chirachar and 6 from Shatgarh area. Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of Coast Guard Chandpur Station Deputy Commissioner's Office Nahid Iqbal, Md. Rahmat Ullah and Tanvir Rabbi conducted the mobile court. At that time, 22 fishermen were sentenced to 12 days in prison and fined Tk 200 each. The remaining two fishermen were released on bail as they were minors.Assistant Fisheries Officer Mizanur Rahman further said that the seized cargo was destroyed by burning in the presence of the Executive Magistrate. The seized Hilsa was distributed to orphanages and 6 boats are in the custody of the Coast Guard.It said that as part of the Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2026, special operations are being conducted day and night in the Meghna River and its tributaries under the jurisdiction of Hijla Naval Police Outpost from October 8. These operations are being conducted under the supervision of Police Superintendent SM Nazmul Haque of the Barisal Region Naval Police and under the leadership of Senior Assistant Police Superintendent Md. Imran Hossain Molla and Police Inspector Md. Yasinul Haque, in-charge of Hijla Naval Police Outpost. During the operation, fishermen were arrested on charges of illegally catching mother Hilsa with current nets during the prohibited hours. Regular cases have been filed against them and sent to court. The seized current nets have been destroyed as per the rules. And the 247 kg of seized fish have been distributed among local orphanages and poor people. In addition, 13 minor boys were taken into police custody during the operation. Later, their guardians were called and warned, bonds were taken and they were handed over to their families, the release said.