4 held for violating crab harvesting ban in Sundarbans

Forest officials detained four men in the Sundarbans today (4 July) over allegations of harvesting crabs during the government-imposed ban and setting traps to hunt deer.

The detainees were identified as Farid Hawlader, 55; Ataur Khan, 56; Mojam Jamaddar, 33; and Ruhul Jamaddar, 35 -- all residents of South Chila in Mongla.

Confirming the matter, Chandpai Range Assistant Conservator of Forests Dipan Chandra Das said the suspects were detained around 4am from the Mrigamari canal area under the Chandpai Range of the Eastern Sundarbans Division.

Rezaul Karim, divisional forest officer, said a joint patrol comprising staff from the Chandpai Forest Station and the Andharmanik Eco-Tourism Centre spotted a suspicious dinghy boat in the canal during a routine patrol.

"When forest officials signalled the boat to stop, those on board tried to flee by rowing away. The patrol team pursued them in a speedboat and a trawler before detaining the four men along with the boat," he said.

A search of the boat recovered a 300-foot deer snare, 105 kilogrammes of live crabs, 50 banned charu fishing traps, three water drums, a machete, and a saw, he added.

Rezaul also said that the four were later sent to court after a case was filed against them under the Forest Act, 1927.

The Forest Department would continue such drives to protect the Sundarbans' biodiversity and wildlife, he mentioned.

According to the Forest Department, harvesting, transporting, storing, and selling crabs from the Sundarbans is completely prohibited from 1 June to 31 August to ensure crab breeding and conserve the forest's biodiversity.

The department also said that crab harvesting is banned across all rivers and canals of the Sundarbans during January and February every year as part of long-term conservation efforts.