To protect indigenous fish species the local administration and Fisheries Department conducted a mobile court drive against illegal fishing in Sunamganj’s Shantiganj upazila. Authorities fined four individuals a total of Tk.10,000 and seized approximately 8,330 meters of banned ring nets.
The operation took place on Tuesday afternoon along the Nainda River and Shanghai Haor. Shantiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate Hillol Chakma led the drive accompanied by Upazila Fisheries Officer Kamrul Hasan, local law enforcement and community representatives.
Under the Fisheries Protection and Conservation Act of 1950 officials penalized the four offenders and confiscated 49 banned ring nets valued at an estimated Tk.171,500. To ensure the gear could not be reused the seized nets were brought near the Sadarpur Bridge and publicly burned.
The Shantiganj upazila administration reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement also stating that regular crackdowns against illegal netting will continue to preserve the vital fisheries resources and aquatic ecosystems of the region's rivers and haors.
