Navy deploys 17 warships to protect hilsa during spawning season

In a dramatic show of force to protect Bangladesh's most cherished aquatic resource, Bangladesh Navy has deployed 17 warships, patrol boats, and state-of-the-art maritime aircraft in a nationwide campaign to safeguard the hilsa, the country’s national fish, during its critical spawning period. The Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2025, a 22-day initiative launched on October 4, enforces a complete ban on the harvesting, transportation, storage, sale, purchase, and exchange of hilsa until October 25. The prohibition also extends to all marine fishing activities in designated breeding zones, including the Bay of Bengal and major river systems like the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Bangladesh Navy is operating under the mandate of...