The Coast Guard has detained 33 fishermen along with 3 million meters of illegal current nets worth about 10.5 crore taka from the Meghna River in Hatiya, an isolated island upazila of Noakhali.

On Tuesday (July 22) morning, Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the matter. Earlier, they were detained from the Meghna River in the Nil Boya area of Chairman Ghat of the upazila on Monday.

After investigation, it was learned that the Coast Guard has been conducting regular operations to prevent illegal fishing and ensure the proper reproduction of marine fish. In continuation of this, a group of members of the Hatiya Coast Guard conducted an operation in the Meghna River adjacent to Chairman Ghat of the upazila at around 4 pm yesterday, Monday, based on secret information. During the operation, 33 fishermen along with 3 million meters of illegal current nets worth 10.5 crore taka from two fishing boats were detained while fishing with illegal current nets. At the same time, two fishing boats were seized. Meanwhile, when the Coast Guard’s expedition team was chasing another fishing boat, the fishermen suddenly attacked them. In this, 1 Coast Guard member and 1 boatman were injured.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq also said that the seized illegal current nets were destroyed in the presence of the Upazila Fisheries Officer. The arrested fishermen have been handed over to the police station. Preparations are underway to file a case in this incident. The Coast Guard will continue such operations in the future to maintain the law and order situation in the country.