Intensified drives reduce forest crimes in Sundarban

SARANKHOLA, BAGERHAT, June 21: The Forest Department has claimed a significant decline in forest crimes in the eastern Sundarbans following intensified drives and regular patrols by forest guards.

According to the department, 377 individuals involved in forest offences were arrested over the past year. A large quantity of deer hunting traps, venison, and illegal fishing and crab-catching equipment were also seized during the operations. In addition, a list of identified deer poachers has been prepared and handed over to law enforcement agencies and intelligence units.

Sources from the Eastern Sundarban Forest Division said extensive operations were conducted over the past year in the Sarankhola  and Chandpai ranges to prevent poaching of deer and other wildlife, as well as the looting of forest resources. Officials said that strengthened foot patrols in remote and difficult-to-access forest areas have significantly helped bring forest crimes under control.

According to forest department data, a total of 474 operations were conducted between May 2025 and April 2026. During these drives, 241 cases were filed under the Forest Act. Although 396 people were named in the cases, 377 of them were arrested and sent to jail through court orders.

During the drives, authorities recovered 114,553 feet of deer traps laid across approximately 35 kilometres of forest areas. They also seized 249 kg of deer meat.

In addition, 448 trawlers and 100 boats were seized in separate operations. Other confiscated items include 8,381 illegal crab-catching gears, 300 feet of fishing nets, 217 kg of various fish species, 724 kg of fish caught using poison, 96 bottles of poison, and five packets of toxic fishing powder. Authorities also recovered 22 sacks of shrimp dried using poison and 1,066 kg of illegally harvested crabs.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarban Division Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, forest crime has declined compared to previous years.

“Due to regular patrols and operations by forest guards, the activities of poachers and forest pirates have come under control,” he said.

He further said that a list of 150 identified deer poachers has been prepared under the Eastern Sundarban Forest Division and has been shared with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The listed individuals are under continuous surveillance.

Forest officials believe that continued operations, intelligence monitoring and cooperation from local communities will further reduce wildlife poaching and other forest-related crimes in the Sundarban.