Forest officials detained 22 fishermen in the Sundarbans after seizing 10 maunds of prohibited shapla pata fish, two trawlers, and equipment during a drive against illegal entry and harvesting.
Forest officials in Bangladesh have detained 22 fishermen and seized two trawlers after recovering 10 maunds of prohibited shapla pata fish from the Sundarbans, authorities said on Saturday.
The arrests were made for entering a protected forest area without permission and illegally harvesting fish from deep inside the world’s largest mangrove forest. Officials said fishing gear including rope lines hooks and ice boxes were also confiscated during the operation.
Members of the Forest Department returned to the locality with the detainees around 11 am on Saturday, February 21. The fishermen had earlier been apprehended on Friday, February 20, from the Mandarbaria sanctuary area of the Sundarbans.
The detained fishermen were identified as Jamal Howlader, 32, Md Kalu, 48, Farhad, 30, Md Yasin Khan, 40, Dulal Gazi, 30, Md Hanif Howlader, 40, Rajib Howlader, Ibrahim, Md Chomed, 45, of Mahipur village in Patuakhali district’s Mahipur upazila, Md Russell, 30, of Chapli village, Ismail of R Talatali village in Talatali upazila, Md Sharif Mia of South Barobigha village in Patuakhali Sadar, and Md Shafiqul Khanh, 20, of Kodalia village in Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat district, among a total of 22 detainees.
Moshiur Rahman, assistant conservator of forests for the Sundarbans Satkhira Range, said the fishermen were detained while illegally catching fish after entering the reserved forest area without authorization. Two trawlers were seized and various fishing equipment recovered from the vessels.
He said the impounded trawlers and equipment have been kept in Forest Department custody and cases have been filed against all 22 detainees under the Forest Act. According to court orders, the seized fish will be buried underground.
Local forest officials said regular drives are being conducted to protect the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and to prevent illegal extraction of forest resources. Such operations will continue in the future, they added.
The detained fishermen claimed they had mistakenly strayed near the Mandarbaria area due to dense fog when a forest patrol team intercepted them.
The Forest Department noted that to conserve the Sundarbans’ fragile environment and fish resources, seasonal bans are imposed on catching certain species of fish and crabs. Strict action will be taken against anyone violating the law and extracting resources from the protected forest, officials warned.
