The government-imposed 58-day fishing ban in Bangladesh’s maritime waters of the Bay of Bengal will end at midnight on Thursday, paving the way for thousands of fishermen to return to sea after nearly two months of inactivity.
Across Cox’s Bazar’s Fishery Ghat, fishermen and trawler owners were seen making final preparations ahead of the resumption of fishing operations. Repairing nets, loading ice, fuel, and food supplies, and checking fishing equipment kept the bustling fishing hub busy throughout the day.
A visit to the fish landing centre showed that many trawlers had already been prepared for deep-sea voyages. Fishermen were loading provisions, ice, and fish preservation equipment onto their vessels, hoping for a productive season following the prolonged ban.
Fisherman Mohammad Shah Alam said the restriction had placed considerable strain on his family.
“We could not go to sea for more than two months.” It was very difficult to support our families during this period. We are now hopeful of catching plenty of fish. If we can return with full loads, we may be able to recover some of our losses,’ he said.
Another fisherman, Abdur Rahman, said that although government assistance had been provided during the ban, it was insufficient to meet the needs of an entire family.
‘Everyone is happy to be returning to the sea. If we get a good catch, it will bring some relief to our households,’ he said.
Trawler owner Nurul Amin said the vessels had remained idle at the harbour throughout the ban period, generating no income while maintenance costs continued to accumulate.
‘We are hoping that fish stocks have increased during the restriction period and that we will be able to recover some of the losses suffered over the past two months,’ he said.
Leaders of the Cox’s Bazar Fishing Boat Owners’ Association said the annual restriction plays an important role in conserving marine fish resources and ensuring sustainable production. However, they noted that the ban also creates financial hardship for fishermen and boat owners who depend entirely on fishing for their livelihoods.
With the restriction set to expire at midnight, hundreds of fishing trawlers are expected to leave Cox’s Bazar for the deep sea in the coming hours.
Industry insiders expressed optimism that, weather permitting, the returning vessels would bring back substantial catches in the coming days, providing a boost to local fish markets and the coastal economy.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
