In a special operation in the southwestern sea area of St Martin, the Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested 19 fishermen along with an illegal artisanal trawling boat and a Thai fishing net.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, the Coast Guard’s media officer, confirmed this information in a press release sent to the media on Saturday afternoon.
He informed that, based on a tip-off, a special operation was conducted in the southwestern sea area of St Martin’s Chhera Island at around 10pm on Friday by the Coast Guard ship “Shyamal Bangla”. During the operation, one illegal artisanal trawling boat was seized. Subsequently, a search of the boat led to the arrest of 19 fishermen. Approximately 1,200 metres of Thai net, valued at around Tk15,000, were also seized.
He also stated that the process of taking legal action against the seized boat, net, and the detained fishermen is underway.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq further said, “To protect fishery resources, the Bangladesh Coast Guard continues regular patrols and operations in the country’s maritime territory. Such operations will continue in the future as well.”
