Fishing with electric shock in the Jamuna River Two fishermen fined

Two fishermen were arrested for illegally catching fish using electric shock in the Jamuna River in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra. A mobile court later fined them Tk 10,000 each, totaling Tk 20,000, and seized banned fishing equipment.

The drive was conducted on Thursday (March 5) from 5:00 am to around 11:30 am in the Shalik Char and Tengrakura Char areas of Kajla and Hatshepur unions of the upazila.

The operation was led by Upazila Fisheries Officer (Additional Duty) Golam Shakil Ahmed. After the arrests, the fishermen were presented before a mobile court conducted by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Sumaiya Ferdous.

According to the Upazila Fisheries Office, several groups have been illegally catching fish in the Jamuna River by generating electric shocks using batteries and inverters. The use of such technology has increased in recent times, both day and night. This method not only kills fish but also destroys other aquatic species, posing a serious threat to river biodiversity.

During the drive, officials seized eight inverters, 15 large batteries and electric wires used to generate electric shocks in the water.

The arrested fishermen were identified as Salam Sheikh of Anand Bazar area in Tengrakura village under Kajla union and Sona Chowdhury of Pakerdaha village.

Authorities also seized about 30 kilograms of various species of fish caught using electric shock. After the operation, the fish were distributed among three local madrasas.

Local fishermen said that for a long time some groups have been generating electricity with batteries and inverters and releasing it into the river water, which instantly kills fish. They warned that the practice is destroying the river’s aquatic resources, including both large and small fish.

Upazila Fisheries Officer Golam Shakil Ahmed said fishing with electric devices is strictly prohibited because it destroys fish breeding capacity and kills other aquatic animals living in the riverbed.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Sumaiya Ferdous said unscrupulous fishermen are using banned electric devices to catch fish indiscriminately in the Jamuna River. This practice violates the Fisheries Act and kills fish, eggs, fry and other aquatic species such as crabs and snails.

She added that the upazila administration will continue such drives and take strict legal action against those involved in destructive fishing practices.