Dumuria: In a bid to protect fisheries resources and restore the canal's natural water flow, the Dumuria Upazila administration has launched a drive against the use of illegal nets in the Bhodra Canal. The eviction drive began on Wednesday afternoon under the supervision of the Dumuria UNO, Fisheries Officer, and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dumuria Police Station to remove illegal fishing gear, including fixed net barriers and banned Chinese ring nets.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, officials reported that a section of illegal fishers had long obstructed the canal's natural flow by installing fixed net barriers, while the use of fine-mesh Chinese nets was destroying eggs and fry of indigenous fish species, posing a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem. Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Dumuria Amit Kumar Biswas emphasized the importance of the Bhodra Canal in maintaining the region's ecological balance, warning that the administration would not tolerate any illegal occupation or use of prohibited fishing gear in canals or open water bodies.
He mentioned that regular mobile court drives would continue and that legal action would be taken against offenders. Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Sohel Md. Zillur Rahman Regan described Chinese ring nets and fixed barriers as "silent killers" of fisheries, highlighting how their fine mesh traps fish eggs and fry, severely affecting natural breeding. He stressed that enforcement alone would not solve the problem permanently, advocating for greater public awareness and stricter measures to stop the sale and use of harmful fishing nets.
The operation was welcomed by local residents, who expressed that such field-level enforcement would help restore the canal, protect native fish species, and ensure uninterrupted water flow. Environmentalists and local stakeholders expressed hope that regular enforcement drives would significantly reduce illegal fishing in the Bhodra Canal and surrounding water bodies, contributing to the conservation of indigenous fish and biodiversity in the country's southwest region.