Gecko, a kind of small lizard commonly known as “Tokkhok” in Bangla, is on the verge of extinction because the species is being constantly smuggled out of the country.
Several groups of unscrupulous people are active in catching the vulnerable species and smuggling them out in order to earn a handsome profit.
The number of such people is very alarming as there are several rumours regarding the price of geckos.
Some of the illegal businessmen have already been penalised by different mobile courts after they were detained by the law enforcement agencies, recently.
In the latest incident which occurred yesterday, police recovered a 10 inch long gecko from Barisal’s Swarupkathi area.
Sub-Inspector Md Enamul Haque of the Swarupkathi police station said the Tokkhok was recovered from the house of Swapan Majumder in the Kourikhara area. Swapan, Hridoy Mandal and Milton were detained in this regard and they were fined Tk10,000 each, the SI added.
Swarupkathi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mizanur Rahman later handed over the Tokkhok to the Forest Department.
Assistant Conservator of Forest, Pirojpur Forest Department, Harun-or-Rashid said the Tokkhok was set free in the forest.
