Khulna: A total of 311 individuals have been apprehended in the Sundarbans East Forest region over the past eight months for crimes including illegal deer hunting and fishing. The arrests were made during operations conducted by security forces, including the Coast Guard and Forest Department. In these operations, authorities seized 242 kilograms of venison and 351 boats and trawlers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, joint operations were carried out from May to December 2025 in the Shyamnagar and Chandpai ranges of the Sundarbans East Forest. These efforts resulted in arrests related to illegal deer poaching, fishing, crab catching, and other offenses. Legal actions have been initiated against the accused, who were subsequently sent to jail through the Bagerhat courts.
The operations also led to the confiscation of various items, including 61,000 feet of deer traps, 90 bottles of pesticides, 700 kilograms of poisoned fish, 816 kilograms of crabs, 5,500 crab traps, 231 fishing nets, 22 sacks of dried fish, and 217 kilograms of assorted fish species.
Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East, emphasized the rigorous daily patrols conducted by forest guards in protected areas like the Sundarbans. These patrols, conducted both on foot and by river, aim to combat poaching, dismantle illegal traps, and prevent unlawful logging to safeguard deer and other wildlife. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to a “zero-tolerance policy” to protect the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.