Fishermen in Patuakhali are eagerly preparing to sail into the deep sea with high hopes of catching hilsa as the 22-day ban on hilsa fishing comes to an end from this midnight. The ban, imposed from October 4 to October 25, was aimed at allowing mother hilsa to breed freely.

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

Most fishermen in Patuakhali spent the past weeks idle, grappling with debt and waiting for the ban to lift. Now, the long silence at the fishing terminals of Mohipur and Alipur has given way to bustling activity. Boat owners and crews are putting the finishing touches on their preparations — painting trawlers, repairing and sorting nets, and loading daily essentials — all hopeful that their efforts will soon pay off with a bountiful hilsa catch.

Abdul Aziz, a fisherman from the Mohipur BFDC terminal, said, "During the ban, the government provided only 25 kilogrammes of rice per fisherman. However, everyone did not receive it. It is difficult to run a family with that aid."

He added, "We had very little income even before the ban, so many of us have fallen into debt. If we do not get a good catch this season, we will have to carry that debt all year."

Shafik Hossain, a fisherman from Nilganj in Kalapara, said, "All preparations are complete. Many trawlers are already anchored near the Khaprabhanga river estuary. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, we will cast our nets into the sea. We are hopeful for a good hilsa catch, but if not, it will be a big worry for us."

Patuakhali District Fisheries Officer Kamrul Islam said the district has around 65,000 hilsa fishermen. "The ban was fully successful. We expect fishermen will soon start catching hilsa and other marine fish as they resume fishing tonight," he added.