Pirojpur: Naval police in a drive seized one lakh illegal shrimp fry and arrested a man from the Kachan River in Kaukhali upazila of the district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the arrested man was identified as Aynal Haque from Taltoli upazila in Barguna district. The shrimp fry were intercepted while being smuggled via a trawler on the river. Following the arrest, a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Swajal Molla imposed a fine of Taka 5,000 on Aynal Haque.
The confiscated shrimp fry were subsequently released into various water bodies within the upazila at 10 am on Monday, as stated by Kaukhali Upazila Fisheries Officer Hafizur Rahman. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Kaukhali Naval Police executed the operation on the Kachan River, seizing an engine-run boat during the drive.
The team discovered the shrimp fry upon searching the boat. “It is illegal to catch shrimp fry at any time. Our campaign to protect native fish species will continue,” emphasized the fisheries officer.