Forest guards detained six suspected deer poachers posing as fishermen in a protected sanctuary area of the Chandpai Range in the East Sundarbans on Friday evening.
The six were apprehended at Haldir Khal under the Charaputia Forest Patrol Post in Mongla of Bagerhat.
Forest personnel seized 200 feet of nylon rope traps used for catching deer, two boats, a 40-foot Charpata or Khalpata fishing net and other hunting equipment.
The detainees were identified as Hezbullah Khondokar, Samsul Haq, Tamej Sheikh, Sabuj Sheikh, Saud Sheikh and Nahid Sheikh, all residents of Chhayerabad village in Mongla upazila.
Charaputia Forest Office Officer-in-Charge Md Asaduzzaman confirmed the arrests by telephone on Saturday afternoon.
He said forest guards spotted the six fishing in a prohibited canal during a routine patrol on Friday evening and initially detained them for illegally fishing inside the sanctuary.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to deer poaching, prompting forest personnel to search the surrounding forest.
Acting on their statements, guards recovered 200 feet of deer traps that had already been set inside the forest.
Asaduzzaman said the detainees were primarily involved in deer poaching but used fishing as a cover for their activities.
A case was filed against them under the Forest Act, and they were produced before a Bagerhat court on Saturday afternoon. He added that forest patrols had been intensified to prevent poaching and other illegal activities in the Sundarbans.
