Mongla, Aug 15 (V7N) – The Mongla Coast Guard detained eight poachers in the Harbadia area of the Sundarbans for hunting during the protected season. Authorities seized a cache of illegal items, including 13.5 kg of deer meat, one deer head, four deer legs, a trapping device, nets, 18 kg of crab, 5 liters of pesticide, and two boats. The suspects have been handed over to the forest department for legal action.
 
A Coast Guard media officer, Lt. Rafid‑as‑Sami (Dhaka), stated that the operation was launched based on a tip-off on Thursday evening near the Dighi canal in Harbadia. The suspects reportedly entered the forest during the season when all extraction, including fishing and tourism, is banned to protect wildlife and breeding cycles.
 
Under a three-month ban from June 1 to August 31, entry into the Sundarbans—including for fishing, crab harvesting, tourism, and resource collection—is strictly prohibited to ensure a disturbance-free breeding season for aquatic life and wildlife.
 
Lt. Rafid‑as‑Sami emphasized the Coast Guard’s commitment to future operations aimed at protecting the Sundarbans from wildlife trafficking and preserving its biodiversity.
 
Upon recovery, the illegal items and the suspects were transferred Thursday night to the Chandpai Forest Office under the forest department’s jurisdiction for processing and filing of charges.

END/ABS/SMA/