149 cases filed over illegal fishing, wildlife hunting in Sundarban

KOYRA, KHULNA, Sept 8: The Department of Forest (DoF) has filed 149 cases against people accused of illegally entering the Sundarban and hunting fish, crabs and wildlife during a seasonal ban.

The cases were filed in the Khulna Range of the Sundarban West Forest Division. Eighty people have been accused, of whom 67 have been arrested and 13 remained at large, according to the DoF.

The government banned entry into the Sundarban from June 1 to August 31 to protect fish and wildlife 

Forest officials said patrol teams seized 156 boats and 4 trawlers during operations in the Khulna Range. They also recovered 967 kilograms of poisoned shrimp, 108 fishing nets, 56 bottles of poison, 1,958 deer traps, 1,030 kilograms of honey, 145 kilograms of venison, 200 kilograms of fish, 6,662 meters of rope and 786 crab-catching traps, among other equipment.

Of the 149 cases, 31 were filed under provisions related to possession of prohibited materials and 117 for unauthorised possession of such materials, according to officials. The cases were filed with the Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Koyra.

Kashiabad Forest Station Officer (Deputy Ranger) Md Nasir Uddin said the seized items have been produced before the court. Perishable items were destroyed on court orders, while live crabs were released into rivers and canals in the Sundarban.

Sundarban Khulna Range Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Md Sajminul Islam said regular patrols during the ban helped protect the Sundarban’s biodiversity and forest resources.