Patharggata (Barguna) Correspondent

Allegations of extortion targeting fishermen and traders in rivers and the Bay of Bengal have surfaced through a viral video, creating a massive uproar in Pathorghata Upazila of Barguna district.

While victims had long complained about such practices without concrete proof, a newly emerged video has exposed an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Naval Police demanding bribes from disguised reporters posing as fishermen at the Charduani Naval Police Outpost.

Local sources indicate that several journalists went to the Charduani Naval Police Outpost disguised as fishermen following frequent reports of extortion. During an interaction at the outpost, ASI Kabir demanded money for permission to fish in the sea, a conversation that was secretly recorded. The video subsequently spread across WhatsApp and other platforms among local journalists and residents. The footage shows ASI Kabir sitting casually in a lungi and shirt with his legs crossed, counting money while conversing with the disguised individuals.

According to fishermen, traders, and locals, Pathorghata is a river-girt upazila bordered by the Bishkhali River to the east, the Boleshwar River to the west, and the vast Bay of Bengal to the south. The 12-kilometer Barani Canal connects the Boleshwar and Bishkhali rivers, serving as a vital waterway where hundreds of fishing trawlers, steel-bodied trawlers, small ships, and other vessels ply daily. Fishermen, timber merchants, and trawler owners have long accused the Charduani Naval Police Outpost of collecting tolls along this route.

Victims report that after battling rivers and the sea to catch fish, they are forced to pay between Tk 2,500 and Tk 3,000 per trip to the naval police outpost upon returning to shore. Pathorghata also houses the country's second-largest fish landing center. Fishermen bring their catches to this hub for sale, but must pay tolls before heading out to sea again. Those who refuse to pay the stipulated amounts face false cases, harassment, and threats of having their valid equipment burned or labeled illegal.

Timber traders Azad and Sohel stated that they frequently travel through the canal to collect firewood from various villages and transport it via waterways to Khulna, Satkhira, and other areas. They noted that they, along with numerous other affected traders, are forced to pay between Tk 2,000 and Tk 3,000 per ship on every trip, and demanded an end to this extortion.

Fisherman Zakir Hossain and other unnamed sources stated that small wooden boats and steel-bodied trawlers are charged between Tk 1,500 and Tk 2,500 monthly, while fishing trawlers pay Tk 1,000 to BDT 1,500, with larger vessels paying fixed sums. Failure to pay invites threats of lawsuits, harassment, or seizure of watercraft.

When reporters visited the Charduani Naval Police Outpost to obtain a statement from the accused ASI Kabir, he was not found. Upon being contacted by mobile phone regarding the collection of money from fishermen, he claimed he was far away and disconnected the call, subsequently ignoring further attempts to reach him.

Charduani Naval Police Outpost In-Charge Md. Gazanabi denied the allegations, stating he had no knowledge of any such extortion. When confronted with the video showing money transactions and call recordings, he maintained he was unaware of the incident, adding that departmental action would be taken if anyone was found guilty.

Pathorghata Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Hasibul Haq stated that while rumors of naval police taking money from fishermen are frequently heard, no concrete proof had surfaced previously. Upon viewing the video, he assured that he would raise the matter at an upazila meeting to ensure departmental action is taken against the dishonest official.

Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, President of the Barguna District Fishermen Trawler Owners Association, remarked that corrupt naval police outpost officials routinely extort money from fishermen, noting that this is not a new occurrence.

He explained that failure to pay results in fishermen being barred from fishing and subjected to severe harassment, turning protectors into predators. He demanded strict legal action against the corrupt naval police official.