A section of greedy fishermen illegally catching fish from the river Padma in Godagari and in Paba upazila by using poison.
It is alleged, despite being aware of such illegal fishing through using poison baits, concerned authorities of the upazilas remained silent and taking no action against those illegal fishermen. As a result, those fishermen are being further encouraged in illegal fishing.
Sources mentioned, in some five kilometre area from the bank of the river Padma at Sarangpur through Godagari Model thana to rail bazaar ghat at railgate and various pockets of the river Padma under Paba upazila local fishermen with their family members are engaged in catching fish from the river Padma by using poison baits.
The fishermen used to dig mud at the bottom of shallow water near the river bank in places and prepare ‘ditch or well’ locally known as ‘Kumor’ and put bushes and branches of trees there. Then they place in those wells fish-foods made of oil-cake and rice husk to attract fishes. By being attacked with the food in those wells, fishes gather in there when the fishermen, specially at night, pour poison in those wells. Being highly toxic, fish died instantly and floats on water by the morning. Hundreds of fishermen from Sarangpur to Rail Bazaar area of Godagari upazila and Char Majardiar under Paba upazila are seen to collect those poison laced fishes in the morning and selling those to various markets.
Mohsin Ali(45), a resident of Rail Bazaar area informed, fishermen were catching fish by pouring poison in the wells at night. As a result, a huge number of dead and rotten fishes of various local varieties are seen to float on the river. Some times, those dead fishes not being noticed by the fishermen, rot and spread pungent smell. He further said, usually, the fish caught through using poison emit smell like kerosene and to keep those fishes fresh for a long time, toxic Formalin is mixed with those.
Ashraful Islam, a teacher of Naohata area under Paba upazila informed, Fishermen catch fishes by using poison from the pockets of water of the river Padma, but, for mysterious reasons, law enforcement agency members are reluctant to take any action against them.
Local people have also complained the matter to Godagari Upazila Fisheries Officer verbally but no drive against those illegal fishermen has yet been conducted.
A source of Upazila Fisheries Office of Godagari in this connection said, he had heard about hunting fishes in the river Padma through using poisonous bait. He himself went to the spots several times but failed to find any one to catch fish using poison baits. He further mentioned, if any one is caught red handed with specific proof, action will be taken against him.