A naval police team, during a drive today, arrested 26 fishermen along with 55 lakh metres of fishing net, four fishing boats, and two mounds of hilsa fish from Meghna river.

They were arrested for defying the government's ongoing 22-day ban on hilsa catching, selling, transporting and marketing, reports a Chandpur correspondent.

Chandpur Naval Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mujahidul Islam said that the drives were carried out at various places of Meghna river, including Lagmimara, Lakshmirchar, Rajrajeshwar, Amirabad and Lalpur, from 12am to 10am today.

A case has been filed against the 26 fishermen at Chandpur Model Police Station, he said.

Police are working to ensure that fishermen do not enter the river under any circumstances during the ban, said the OC.