Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 17 fishermen and seized 30,000 meters of illegal current nets and two engine-driven wooden boats during an operation at the Meghna River estuary in Chandpur.
The operation was conducted on Wednesday morning by Coast Guard Station Chandpur, according to a press release issued by Lieutenant Commander Syam-ul-Haq, Media Officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The press release stated that, in accordance with the “Fish Protection and Conservation Act, 1950,” the government has imposed a 22-day nationwide ban on the catching, transportation, storage, marketing, and sale of Hilsa fish from 4 October to 25 October 2025, marking the main breeding season of Hilsa. To ensure the successful implementation of the Mother Hilsa Conservation Program, the Coast Guard has intensified intelligence surveillance and is conducting round-the-clock patrols across rivers and coastal areas.
As part of this effort, the operation carried out at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday led to the seizure of illegal fishing equipment worth approximately Tk 10,50,000, including 30,000 meters of current nets, 20 kg of Hilsa fish valued at Tk 20,000, and two boats.
Among those detained, one individual was under the age of 18 and was released to his guardian upon signing a bond. The confiscated nets were destroyed in the presence of the Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, Chandpur, while the seized fish were distributed to a local madrasa. The boats were handed over to the Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, and the remaining 16 detainees were handed over to Chandpur Sadar Police Station for legal action.
Bangladesh Coast Guard will continue such operations in the future to protect the country's valuable fisheries resources, the press release further added.
