Banned current nets worth Tk 1.5 Lakh seized in Padma
Banned current nets worth Tk 150,000 were seized from the Padma River in Goalanda, Rajbari district, during a coordinated anti-fishing drive carried out on
Table of Contents
Joint Operation Recovers Banned Current Nets Worth Tk 150,000 from the Padma
Thebangladaily.com – Banned current nets worth Tk 150,000 were seized from the Padma River in Goalanda, Rajbari district, during a coordinated anti-fishing drive carried out on Friday, September 4. The operation, led by the Upazil Nirbahi Officer of Goalanda, Saiful Huda, together with Daulatdia River Police, recovered approximately 5,000 metres of prohibited current netting material from various stretches of the river and its adjoining waterways. The seizure represents one of the larger single-day recoveries of banned gear in the Rajbari sector this season.
The drive targeted multiple locations along the Padma and nearby tributaries where fishers had been deploying current nets in violation of national fisheries regulations. Officers from the Goalanda UNO office and the Daulatdia River Police Outpost worked in tandem to comb the banks, inspect moored boats, and confiscate every length of netting they encountered. The confiscated material was transported to the police outpost for inventory and subsequent disposal.
Arrest and Mobile Court Penalty
During the sweep, a 54-year-old fisherman identified as Babu Pramanik was apprehended near Daulatdia Ferry Ghat No. 7 with his current net still in use. He was brought before a mobile court, where he was fined Tk 1,000 and handed a conditional order: failure to pay the fine within the stipulated period would result in three days of imprisonment. The mobile court session was conducted on-site to ensure swift adjudication without requiring the accused to travel to a district courthouse.
Following the inventory, the entire haul of banned current nets was publicly burnt in front of the Daulatdia River Police Outpost. Officials stated that open-air destruction prevents the material from re-entering the informal market and sends a clear deterrent signal to local fishers. UNO Saiful Huda confirmed that similar operations against banned China-duari nets and current nets will be conducted at regular intervals throughout the year to safeguard fish breeding cycles in the Padma River.
“Such operations will be carried out against banned China-duari and current nets in regular intervals to protect breeding of fish in the Padma River.” — UNO, Goalanda
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a current net and why is it banned? A current net is a long, vertical mesh net anchored to the riverbed and allowed to drift with the current, trapping fish indiscriminately. Bangladesh’s fisheries authorities prohibit current nets in major rivers because they destroy juvenile fish, damage spawning grounds, and reduce overall catch sustainability for small-scale fishers who depend on the waterway for their livelihood.
What penalty applies to using a banned current net? Under the Fisheries Act and related regulations, a person found deploying or possessing a current net can be arrested, charged in a mobile or regular court, and fined. In the Goalanda case, the mobile court imposed a Tk 1,000 fine with a three-day imprisonment order contingent on non-payment. Larger seizures or repeat offences can attract higher fines and longer custodial sentences.
Where was this particular seizure carried out? The operation took place across several stretches of the Padma River within Goalanda upazila, Rajbari district, with the arrest occurring near Daulatdia Ferry Ghat No. 7. The confiscated nets were destroyed at the Daulatdia River Police Outpost.
How often will authorities repeat these drives? According to the Goalanda UNO, anti-current-net operations will be conducted at regular intervals throughout the year, targeting both current nets and China-duari nets, with the stated objective of protecting fish breeding populations in the Padma River.
