Dhaka: The River Police, as part of a nationwide operation to safeguard the country's fisheries resources and ensure the safety of its waterways, has seized a substantial quantity of illegal fishing nets and detained 257 crime suspects over the past week.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the operation resulted in the confiscation of over 2.66 crore meters of illegal fishing nets, 2,360 kg of fish, and 120 kg of jellied shrimp. Additionally, 228 bushes were removed from the river. The authorities also arrested 257 individuals in connection with various offenses during the last seven days.
The operation led to the filing of 78 cases, including 27 under the Fisheries Act, 18 for reckless driving, three under the Balumahal Act, 15 for unintentional death, three for theft, five under the Narcotics Control Act, one under the Marine Fisheries Act, one under the Special Powers Act, one for robbery, and three for murder.
A total of 21 bodies were recovered during the past week. In addition, the River Police seized 94 bulkheads and six dredgers for operating without legal documentation. The confiscated illegal nets and jellied shrimp have been destroyed, while the seized fish have been distributed to orphanages.