Chandpur: Two separate mobile courts in Chandpur on Wednesday jailed 31 fishermen for catching Hilsa fish from the River Meghna violating the on-going ban.

Teams led by executive magistrates conducted a drive in different areas of Sadar and Haimchar upazilas and detained 31 fishermen for catching brood Hilsa s in the Meghna river, said B M Nuruzzaman, additional superintendent of police of Chandpur circle.

Later they were produced before separate mobile courts of executive magistrates Kamal Mohammad Rashed and Saiful Islam Bhuiyan in the afternoon, which sentenced them to one year’s imprisonment each.

Besides, a mobile court led by Haimchar upazila nirbahi officer SM Sarwar Kamal sentenced five more fishermen to one year’s imprisonment each for violating the Hilsa  ban.

The government imposed the ban from 25 September to 9 October on catching, selling and transporting Hilsa in the coastal areas to ensure safe spawning of this popular fish during its peak breeding period.