Sundarbans: Forest guards arrested two deer poachers along with trapping equipment from a river of the Katka forest area in the eastern Sundarbans and seized a trawler used in the illegal hunting. The arrested poachers were identified as Abdul Malek Akon, 60, and Abdul Kalam Hang, 55. Both are residents of Sakina village under Taltali upazila of Barguna district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a team of the forest guard led by Motiur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Katka Wildlife Sanctuary Centre under the Sharankhola Range of the Eastern Sundarbans Forest Division, detained the trawler during a routine patrol on the Betmor River at around 3.30 am on Saturday. During a search of the trawler, the forest guards recovered about 500 feet of deer snares. They also noticed blood stains on the deck of the trawler.
The forest guards stated that the poachers were returning after hunting deer inside the Sundarbans. Sensing the presence of the forest guards, they reportedly threw the deer meat into the river under the cover of darkness. Sharankhola Range Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Md Shariful Islam confirmed that a case was filed against the two arrested poachers for possessing deer traps and engaging in illegal hunting in the Betmor River area of the Sundarbans. The arrested individuals were later produced before a Bagerhat court on Sunday.