DHAKA, May 21, 2026 (BSS) - River Police arrested 302 people during week-long drives conducted across the country to protect fisheries resources and ensure security on waterways.

According to River Police, the drives led to the seizure of 231,73,675 meters of illegal fishing nets, 2,896 kilograms of fish, 199,500 bagda shrimp fry and 490 kilograms of jelly-injected shrimp.

During the operations, 179 illegal river obstacles and bushes were also destroyed.

The River Police also filed prosecutions against 104 bulkheads for lacking valid documents and seized two dredgers.

A total of 96 cases were filed, including 63 under the Fisheries Act, 13 for reckless navigation, and causes related to illegal sand extraction, narcotics, robbery, abduction, extortion, the Special Powers Act, and murder. 

Additionally, 17 bodies were recovered during the period.

The seized illegal nets and jelly-injected shrimp were destroyed, while the shrimp fry were released back into the water. 

The remaining fish were distributed among orphanages.