Licence now required to sell Chandpur hilsa online, applications due by November 15

A licence will now be required to sell Chandpur hilsa online. The Chandpur district administration has taken the decision to stop the fraud that has gone on for years in the name of Chandpur hilsa.

The administration's business, trade and investment branch issued a special notice on Wednesday. It says traders interested in selling hilsa online must apply in the prescribed form from the deputy commissioner's office, subject to eligibility.

Chandpur's tasty hilsa is famous across the country. Taking advantage of that reputation, some dishonest rings have long been cheating people through Facebook pages in the name of Chandpur hilsa. The licence requirement is aimed at ending that fraud.

The notice further says Chandpur district is famous for its delicious hilsa, and the district administration regularly takes initiatives to preserve the fish's taste, control its price and uphold the district's standard.

Under the schedule given by the district administration, interested traders must apply by November 15 in the prescribed form given in Appendix-Ka. They must then submit the documents listed in Appendix-Kha and collect the licence by November 30.

Sources in the district fish traders' association and the district and police administrations say a ring has long been cheating ordinary people across the country online in the name of Chandpur hilsa.

Police Superintendent Md Mizanur Rahman said, 'We have received several specific complaints so far. On the basis of those, we have arrested 11 fraudsters in total, including nine from Narail, and already sent them to jail.'

Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ziaur Rahman said, 'From now on there will be no scope to cheat people over hilsa. We have arranged to bring online hilsa sellers under a licence.'

The district administration's licensing initiative is expected to protect buyers from fraud when they buy Chandpur hilsa online.