Forest guards arrest four fishermen, seize 80kg crabs during banned netting period in eastern Sundarbans. Photo : BSS

KHULNA, Feb 6, 2026 (BSS) - Forest guards, in a drive, arrested four fishermen along with 80 kilograms of crabs from the eastern Sundarbans while they were illegally transporting the crabs during the banned period.

 The arrested were identified as Rafik Molla, 48, Rauf Molla, 45, Alamin Sheikh 31, and Asadul Sheikh, 30. All of them hailed from Pankhali of Dacope 
upazila and Chholambaria of Morrelganj upazila.

A trawler and a dinghy boat were also seized during the drive. 

Forest Department sources said a section of fishermen continues to engage in illegal crab netting while it's banned during this period.

A team of forest guards led by Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of the Gyanpara Special Patrol Outpost under the Sharankhola Range of the Sundarbans East 
Forest Division, conducted the drive on Thursday afternoon following a tip-off.

During the operation at the mouth of the Chhuliya canal, adjacent to the Sundarbans, the forest guards intercepted a trawler and a dinghy boat.

Upon searching the vessels, the forest guards recovered 80 kilograms of crabs which had been concealed in baskets using special techniques. 

Forester Asaduzzaman said the detainees were illegally catching and transporting crabs from the Sundarbans in violation of the ongoing two-month ban on crab netting. 

A case was filed against them under the Forest Act and they were produced before a Bagerhat court this afternoon, he added.