, Oct. 30 -- Around 42,000 fishermen in Chandpur resumed hilsa fishing in the Meghna and Padma rivers early Friday after a 22-day ban imposed by the government to protect mother hilsa during the breeding season.

The ban on catching, selling and transporting hilsa officially ended at 11:59pm on Thursday, allowing the fishermen to return to fishing after weeks of hardship.

District Fisheries Officer Fakhrul Islam said authorities maintained strict monitoring throughout the 22-day ban.

He said extensive drives were conducted across the rivers throughout the 22-day ban period to safeguard mother hilsa.

Joint forces comprising the district and upazila administrations, the Fisheries Department, river police, the Bangladesh Coast Guard and t...