While the whole world is busy fighting the deadly coronavirus infection, dead dolphins are seen washed up on the seashore in Cox's Bazar. Moreover, the bodies of these dolphins washed up on the shore were severely wounded. Some dead turtles were also washed up with injured body. Environmentalists have expressed concern over this washed up bodies of dolphins and turtles.
At least 15 dolphins have been found dead at various points along the coast of Cox’s Bazar in the past one week, said local fishermen. The body of four turtles were also found on the beach. Among these 15 dolphins, locals saw the bodies of four dead dolphin at Shaplapur beach in Teknaf, three dolphins at Dariya Nagar Point, three dolphins and 2 turtles at Sun Parachute Point. Locals said the dead dolphins had signs of injury on their bodies.
President of the boat owners' association of Baharchara area of Teknaf Abul Kashem said, “We own smaller trawlers. Fishermen with larger trawlers hit these dolphins when they are caught in the fishing net, as the dolphins disrupts their fish collection entering the nets”.
General secretary of Cox's Bazar Fishingboat Owners’ Association Delwar Hossain said, the dolphins play within 7 to 8 miles of the sea. The fishermen often kill these dolphins when they are caught in a net during fishing. Abdul Gafoor, a fisherman of Inani area, of Ukhiya said that for the past week, dead dolphins have been washing up on the shore.
Calling for the protection of life, Chief Executive of environmentalist organisation ‘Environment People’ Rashedul Majid said, "Such a blow on the nature of life is unacceptable. We are still not stopping our cruelty towards nature even amid the horrific ravage of corona virus worldwide.
Why don't we want to understand that if life in nature do not exist anymore then not only human beings but also the earth will perish. We do not want dolphins to die like this on the coast of Cox's Bazar. This is a dangerous sign for us. Environmentalist Fazlul Quader Chowdhury said it must be found out who killed these dolphins. If these dolphins continue to die like this, our environment will be threatened too.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. Kamal Hossain acknowledging the fact of wounded dead dolphins and turtles being washed up on the beach said, the district administration is investigating who were involved in the killing of these dolphins. The mystery will come out within a few days.
Besides, some areas will be declared as special zones and all fishing and movement of people will be stopped there to protect the environment, he added.
