Farida Akhter, the Fisheries and Livestock Advisor of the interim government, has stated that eating panta-ilish (fermented rice with hilsa) on Pahela Baishakh is not a traditional Bengali practice. She highlighted that during this time, juvenile hilsa (jatka) are often consumed in place of hilsa, which is a clear violation of the law.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday (April 7) at the Secretariat, marking the start of Jatka Conservation Week, she noted that the practice of eating hilsa on Pahela Baishakh began in Dhaka and is not common across the country.
Calling it an artificially imposed tradition, she explained that there is no issue with eating panta bhat (fermented rice) with side dishes like mashed vegetables, chili, or other types of fish.
The Advisor stressed the importance of protecting juvenile hilsa and announced that Jatka Conservation Week would be observed from April 8 to 14. She urged everyone to avoid catching jatka during this period, warning that strict legal actions would be taken against violators.
Additionally, she mentioned that efforts are underway to make hilsa more affordable for the general public.
