31 Indian fishermen detained in Kuakata

Two Indian fishing trawlers along with 5 tons of hilsa seized in Kuakata.

Patuakhali: Bangladesh Navy has arrested 31 Indian fishermen for illegal trespassing in Bangladesh waters. Meanwhile, two fishing trawlers with 5 tons of hilsa have been seized at that time. On Tuesday afternoon, Navy warship BNS Shahid Aktar Uddin intercepted them off the Bay of Bengal near Kuakata while conducting routine operations. The homes of the arrested are in different villages of the Chabbis parganas district of India. BNS Shaheed Aktar Uddin Ship's Commanding Officer Lt. Commander Mosiul Islam confirmed the matter through a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the jetty area of Payra port.

Meanwhile, a local source said that the fishermen of the country stopped fishing due to the 22-day ban imposed by the Bangladesh government to protect mother Hilsa, but Indian fishermen entered the waters of Bangladesh and started hunting mother Hilsa freely. They even enter the waters of Bangladesh by attaching trawling to their fishing trawlers to pull nets.

Md. Jewel Islam, OC of Kalapara police station, said, Navy has filed a case at Kalapara police station. Arrested fishermen are being handed over to court. Measures will be taken according to the court's instructions regarding the seized hilsa fish and trawlers.

It should be noted that the government has imposed a 22-day ban on fishing in seas and rivers from September 13 to November 3 to protect mother Hilsa. - Gofran Biswas Palash