Govt allocates 1,657 tonnes of rice for hilsa-ban families

To cushion fishing communities against the loss of income during the breeding-season prohibition, the government has earmarked 1,657 metric tonnes of rice for 646,290 families across 38 districts and 168 upazilas, offering a vital lifeline while the nation's hilsa stocks are safeguarded.

Under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme, each eligible family will receive 25kg of rice as humanitarian assistance, according to an order issued on September 28 by the Fisheries-2 branch of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Hilsa fishing will remain strictly prohibited from October 6 to October 27 in the 2026–27 fiscal year, a 22-day restriction timed to coincide with the fish's peak breeding season. Consequently, the allocated grain is intended to help registered fishermen sustain their livelihoods while they are barred from the water.

Regionally, the distribution varies considerably. Shariatpur has been assigned the largest share, at 653.225 tonnes for 26,129 families, whereas Manikganj and Rajbari will receive 231.55 tonnes for 9,262 families and 139.8 tonnes for 5,592 families, respectively. Moreover, 19,411 fishing families in Rajshahi Division will collectively receive 485.275 tonnes, including 87.5 tonnes for 3,500 families in Pabna, 47.25 tonnes for 1,890 families in Bogura, and 18.75 tonnes for 750 families in Natore. In addition, Kurigram and Gaibandha have been allocated 403.15 tonnes for 16,126 families, with 240.4 tonnes and 162.75 tonnes going to the two districts, respectively.

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To ensure accountability, district administrations have been instructed to distribute the rice exclusively among verified fishermen in accordance with the humanitarian assistance guidelines. Given the limited time available, sub-allocations must be issued to upazila executive officers within one working day and subsequently released to union parishad chairmen within two working days. Furthermore, distribution must take place in the presence of an upazila fisheries officer or a designated representative and a tag officer, and only registered or card-holding fishermen are eligible. The authorities are required to complete the exercise before the ban takes effect; thereafter, detailed distribution reports must be submitted to the ministry through the Department of Fisheries within 10 working days.