Jatka supply seized at Jatrabari, 9 jailed

A big supply of jatka, Hilsa fry less than nine inches long, has been busted in Dhaka’s Jatrabari.

Nine people were jailed for the banned business by Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam, a magistrate of Rapid Action Battalion’s (Rab) mobile court.

A team of Rab-10 with the help of fisheries department raided New Shapla Motso Arot, Ekota Motso Arot and Golden Motso Arot around 2:00am and made the bust.

The Hilsha fries were brought from Chandpur with other fishes on trucks. The fries are from three to five inches long and weigh 100 to 150 grams each.

The seized fish were distributed among orphanages and madrassas in Demra and Jatrabari area, Magistrate Sarwoer Alam told The Daily Star.

According to law, catching Hilsa fry is a punishable offence as the government prioritises ample production of the national fish of Bangladesh.