A total of 67 endangered turtles were rescued by RAB during a raid in Bheramara, Kushtia.
On Monday afternoon, members of RAB conducted a raid at the Satbaria Bazar of the upazila after receiving a tip-off that turtles were being sold there. Posing as buyers, RAB carried out the operation.
Sudipta Sarkar, company commander of RAB-12, CPC-1 Kushtia camp, confirmed the information. The rescued turtles were later handed over to the Bheramara Forest Department and released into an open water body in the afternoon.
Sudipta Sarkar said they received information that endangered turtles were being sold at Satbaria Bazar. Acting on this, a RAB team conducted a raid disguised as buyers. During the operation, 11 large and 56 small, endangered turtles of the “Kori Kaitta” species were recovered. These turtles are mostly found in India.
They were collected from different parts of the country and brought to the local market by a seller named Mahi (20), son of Mohibul Islam from the same area.
After the turtles were seized from the seller, they were handed over to the Forest Department.
Bheramara Upazila Forest Officer Zahidul Islam said the turtles were released into an open water body in the presence of the divisional forest officer. This species of turtles is protected according to schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 of Bangladesh.
