The authorities have so far failed to prevent a quarter from fishing in the Sundarbans by poisoning the fishes, putting marine life at risk.
Moreover, these fishes that were caught after consuming poison are sold in the markets, posing serious health concerns for people.
“It’s not just one kind of fish. Every kind of marine life is being affected and as a result doing serious damage to the forest,” says RAB-6 Director Colonel Mohamad Moshtaq Ahmed.
He added that the Rapid Action Battalion was preparing to launch raids in order to catch the syndicate involved in poisoning the water.
According to health experts, consumption of these fishes poses serious health risks and may cause liver and kidney complications.
Khulna District Fisheries employee Jaydev Pal said that water resources form a large part of the forest.
“There are around 450 rivers sprawling over the forest area which are home to at least 475 species of fishes,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
He added every year fishes worth crores were poisoned and breeding was severely hampered.
Moreover, animals in the forest like tigers and deer were falling sick after drinking the poisoned water.
“The fisheries department cannot directly lead raids in the Sundarbans because it does not have the jurisdiction to do so,” he said.
Pal stressed creating awareness and taking legal steps to stop fishing through poisoning.
Locals said that some fishermen and pirates in the Dangmari, Moraposhur, Jengra, Jhapshi, Bhadra Kamal, Harin Tana, Kokilmuni and Harbaria areas were involved in poisoning the fishes.
Not only do they fish in the canals where fishing is restricted, the poisoned water goes into the river and now fishes have become scarce there as well.
On April 7, RAB-6 arrested 12 people of a fishing racket from Mongla Upazila’s Japsi area.
The arrestees were identified as Md Saddam Hossain Boidda, 27, Md Shafiqul Islam Boidda, 38, Md Zakir Hossain, 28, Md Khairul Morol, 25, Salam Gazi, 36, Md Bacchu Sana, 35, Md Abu Syed Sarder, 30, Md Nazmul Sarder, 28, Md Abul Hossain Gazi, 28, Shahjahan Sheikh, 45, Md Salam Sana, 30 and Iqramul Sarder, 31.
They were caught with 10 bottles of poisons, four fishing nets, four wooden boats, 400kg of fishes and five torchlights.
On April 8, the forest department detained two fishermen from Kaliarkhal with one boat, fishing nets, and two bottles of pesticides.
The arrestees, Mahbub Dhali and Hassan Gazi, have been sent to Koyra Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate court.
Khulna Range Assistant Forest Conservator AZM Hasanur Rahman said that a case had been filed against them.
