Rajbari, Oct 19 (V7N)- Naval police and the district fisheries department have arrested eight fishermen and seized 200,000 metres of illegal fishing nets, 20 kilograms of hilsa and an engine-powered boat during a joint operation in the Padma River in Rajbari.
The operation was conducted from around 2:00 pm until evening on Sunday, October 18, in different parts of the river to protect mother hilsa during the fishing ban.
Following the operation, authorities publicly burned and destroyed the seized nets, while the confiscated fish were distributed to an orphanage.
The arrested fishermen were identified as Md Hossain Mollah, 20; Habu Mondal, 19; Abu Kalam Mondal, 30; Ariful Islam, 31; Afzal Mondal, 26; Barek Sardar, 35; Bachchu Mollah, 50; and Rashid Sardar, 50. They are from different areas of Pabna and Rajbari.
A regular case was filed against the detainees under the relevant fisheries protection law, and they were subsequently sent to court.
Senior Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department Md Rabiul Alam Parvez, Rajbari District Fisheries Officer Md Mahbub Ul Haque, Daulatdia Naval Police Officer-in-Charge Trinath Saha and other law enforcement personnel took part in the operation.
Trinath Saha said Daulatdia Naval Police was making every effort to protect mother hilsa through continued enforcement operations.
He added that, up to Sunday, authorities had arrested 18 people in 22 operations and seized a total of 500,000 metres of fishing nets, 90 China-duari traps, two boats and 80 kilograms of hilsa.
Authorities continue to conduct operations in the Padma River to prevent illegal fishing and protect hilsa stocks during the restricted fishing period.
END/SMA/AJ
