Dhaka, Nov. 5 -- The government has declared the Halda River, a natural breeding ground for carp and home to the endangered Gangetic dolphin, as a "Fish Heritage" site.

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on Wednesday confirmed the declaration, putting an immediate ban on fishing and waste discharge in the river from the same day.

The order also prohibits fishing in 17 canals connected to the Halda between February and July each year, during the fish breeding season.

According to the gazette, the 94km-long Halda River flows through the Upazilas of Ramgarh and Manikchari in Khagrachhari district, and Fatikchhari, Raozan, Hathazari and the city's Panchlaish in Chattogram district.

The heritage zone c...