A 58-day fishing ban in Bay of Bengal came into effect from April 15 -- aimed at protecting the breeding and conservation of hilsa and other fish.

The restriction, imposed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, will remain in force until June 11, during which all types of fishing in the sea are prohibited.

However, fishermen say they are already struggling with declining catches and fuel shortages have recently restricted fishing trips in the deep sea.

Despite the ban coming into effect, coastal fishermen claim the government’s promised rice assistance has yet to reach many of them, leaving households under severe strain. Allegations have also emerged over irregularities in beneficiary lists.

In Bhola, fishermen from areas, including Dhalchar, Monpura, Char Fesson and Lalmohan, said reduced fish availability in rivers had already pushed incomes down, and the new ban has further deepened the crisis.

Image

Ibrahim, a fisherman from Char Fesson, said survival has become extremely difficult under the combined pressures of low catch and the fishing restriction.

Several fishermen in Monpura said they had been excluded from the beneficiary list despite years of involvement in fishing. They also noted that the allocated 77 kg of rice is insufficient for a family during the two-month ban period.

Bhola District Fisheries Officer Md Iqbal Hossain said around 170,000 fishermen in the district are registered, of whom 63,954 have been provided assistance under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme. Each will receive 77 kg of rice, though the start date of distribution remains uncertain, with preparations still underway.

Israel Pandit, president of Barishal Divisional Small Fishermen’s Association, said nearly one-third of Bhola’s fishing community has been affected. He urged the government to raise support to at least 100 kg of rice per family and include cash assistance as well.

Image

Fishermen have also called for early distribution of VGF aid at the start of the ban period and urged authorities to suspend NGO loan instalments during this time.

In Patuakhali and Barguna, fishermen said the crisis has intensified due to overlapping pressures of fuel shortages, declining catches and the seasonal ban, which has left thousands without income.

In Patuakhali’s Rangabali upazila, fishermen said they are unable to go to sea due to fuel shortages and are now fully dependent on aid that has yet to arrive. In Mohipur near Kuakata, fishermen expressed frustration over uncertainty regarding rice distribution, saying they have no clarity on when assistance will be provided. In Patharghata, Barguna, fishermen said the allocated rice would not be enough to support households of five members.

Patuakhali District Fisheries Officer Bijon Kumar Nandi said about 47,000 registered fishermen in the district will receive 77 kg of rice each during the ban. Distribution is expected to begin next week. He added that any request for increased support from fishermen’s organisations would be forwarded to higher authorities.

At Cox’s Bazar Fishery Ghat, fishermen said their income had already been affected for months due to low catch and fuel shortage, and the ban has further halted earnings. Some said a few trawlers had only recently begun getting fish when the restriction came into force, leaving them without any fallback income.

Cox’s Bazar District Fisheries Officer Nazmul Huda said around 64,000 registered fishermen in the district are being supported. He said 800 metric tonnes of rice have been distributed so far, and the process is expected to be completed by the end of the month.