Three shrimp traders were fined a total of Tk 10,000 in Paikgachha, Khulna, for allegedly injecting foreign substances into bagda shrimp and handling fish and fish products in unhygienic conditions.
During the drive, authorities also seized 10 kilograms of injected bagda shrimp and destroyed it by burying it in the ground.
The operation was conducted on Wednesday morning, September 16, in the West Kainmukh and Chhalubunia areas near Chowrasta in Soladana Union. Paikgachha Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Saikat Mallik led the operation based on confidential information.
Officials inspected several shrimp businesses and found evidence of foreign substances being injected into bagda shrimp, along with unhygienic conditions for handling fish and fish products.
One trader was fined Tk 7,000, another Tk 2,000 and the third Tk 1,000. The fines were collected immediately under the Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Act.
The 10 kilograms of injected shrimp were also buried and destroyed.
SI Jayanta Kumar of the Naval Police Outpost, field assistant Rondhir Sarkar from the office of the Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer, and other Naval Police members participated in the operation.
Saikat Mallik said shrimp is one of Bangladesh's major export products and generates significant foreign exchange earnings each year. He warned that injecting foreign substances into shrimp and processing fish products in unhygienic conditions could harm Bangladesh's shrimp export market.
He said regular enforcement drives are being conducted to maintain shrimp quality and protect the country's reputation in the export market, adding that such operations will continue in the future.
