22 fishermen held for entering Sundarbans illegally

The Forest Department has detained 22 fishermen for illegally entering the Mandarbaria area of the western Sundarbans.

The detainees are residents of different areas of Patuakhali and Bagerhat districts.

Satkhira Range Assistant Conservator of Forests Mashiur Rahman said the fishermen entered the reserved forest area without permission and were fishing illegally on Friday. During the drive, officials seized two trawlers and various fishing equipment.

They also recovered 410kg of Shapla Pata fish, a species banned from being caught as it is considered endangered.

A case was filed against them under the Forest Act on Saturday morning and they were sent to jail following a court order, he said. Later, the seized fish were buried on the riverbank.

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However, the fishermen claimed they were fishing in the Bay of Bengal and lost their way due to dense fog, drifting near the Mandarbaria area. They said they did not catch fish from the Sundarbans rivers.