Fishermen in Patuakhali and Cox's Bazar districts are eagerly preparing to set sail for the deep sea as the 22-day ban on hilsa fishing came to an end at midnight today.

The ban, imposed from October 4, was aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of mother hilsa, prohibiting the catching, selling, and transporting of the fish across the country.

A visit to fishing villages in Patuakhali's Kalapara upazila, including Alipur and Mohipur, revealed a festive atmosphere among the communities despite the financial strain many endured during the ban.

Most fishermen in the district spent the past weeks idle, grappling with debt and waiting for the ban to be lifted.

The fishing terminals of Mohipur and Alipur, after 22 days of silence, finally gave way to bustling activity yesterday, with boat owners and crews putting the finishing touches on their preparations -- painting trawlers, repairing and sorting nets, and loading daily essentials -- all hopeful for a bountiful hilsa catch.

Abdul Aziz, a fisherman at the Mohipur BFDC terminal, said, "During the ban, the government provided only 25 kilogrammes of rice per fisherman. While it is difficult to run a family with that aid, everyone did not even receive it. Many of us have fallen into debt. Only a good catch can now change our days."

Shafik Hossain, a fisherman from Nilganj in Kalapara, said, "All preparations are complete. Many trawlers are already anchored near the Khaprabhanga river estuary. At midnight, we will cast our nets into the sea. If we don't get a good hilsa catch, it will be a big worry for us."

Kamrul Islam, district fisheries officer in Patuakhali, said the district has around 65,000 hilsa fishermen. "The ban has been fully successful. Fishermen will resume fishing tonight," he added.

A similar scene was witnessed in Cox's Bazar.

Syed Ahmed, a fisherman from Maheshkhali upazila, said "The last 22 days were very difficult. I had to borrow money to run my family and repair my boat. Since I don't know any other work, I have to remain in this profession."

Cox's Bazar has around 5,000 fishing trawlers, most of which have already been prepared to resume operations.

Nazir Ahmed, president of Shahapur Island Fishing Trawler Owners' Association in Teknaf, said, "Around 100 trawlers from our dock will set sail tonight."

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, in a special weather bulletin, said a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression.

[Our Patuakhali and Cox's Bazar correspondents contributed to this report.]