Forest officials arrested a man in Chattogram after seizing 13 protected parakeet chicks, as he reportedly confessed links to an international wildlife trafficking network operating across borders.
Forest officials in Chattogram, a port city in southeastern Bangladesh, have arrested a man suspected of links to an international wildlife trafficking network after recovering 13 parakeet chicks during a targeted raid in Fatikchhari, a rural upazila of the district.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Mohammad Raihan, was detained on Monday evening in the Suabil area following a tip-off. He was sent to court on Tuesday after a case was filed against him, officials said.
According to the Bangladesh Forest Department, the recovered birds included 11 rose-ringed parakeet chicks and two red-breasted parakeet chicks, both classified as protected species under national law.
Authorities said the operation was carried out by forest officers posing as buyers in order to apprehend the suspect.
Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer Dipanwita Bhattacharjee confirmed the arrest, adding that Raihan admitted during initial questioning to being involved in an international bird trafficking network.
He also confessed to working with an individual named Helal, who is allegedly connected to cross-border wildlife smuggling activities, officials said.
Possession of such wildlife is a punishable and non-bailable offence under Section 41(3) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2026, authorities added.
Raihan has been produced before the court, while investigations are continuing to identify and trace other members of the trafficking network.
