Illegal fishing gear removed, five fined Tk 53,500 in Begumganj
Noakhali Correspondent
The Begumganj Upazila Administration, in collaboration with the Upazila Fisheries Office, conducted a joint mobile court drive on Monday to remove illegal fishing nets and encroachments from roadside canals across Rajganj and Chhayani unions.
The three-hour operation, which ran from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, targeted illegally placed bamboo barriers (bel) and lift nets (beshal jal) used to trap indigenous fish species along public waterways. Led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mohammad Sadat Hossain alongside Senior Fisheries Officer Masuma Akhtar, the court filed five cases under various statutory acts, imposing fines totaling Tk 53,500.
Under Section 5 of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950, 65-year-old Md. Salim was fined Tk 2,000 for installing illegal nets. Additionally, three separate cases were filed under Section 66 of the Road Transport Act, 2018, resulting in fines of Tk 500 each, amounting to Tk 1,500. Under the Balu Mahal and Soil Management Act, 2010, 32-year-old Niwaj Sharif Niki was fined Tk 50,000.
A police contingent from Rajganj Police Outpost under Begumganj Model Thana, led by Sub-Inspector Iqbal, provided security support during the drive. Administrative officials reaffirmed that similar joint operations will continue in the public interest to protect local ecosystems and public canals.
