DHAKA, Feb 11, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh Navy coordination with law enforcement agencies has launched an operation “in aid to civil power” to protect fisheries in coastlines and inland waters, an ISPR statement said here today.

It said the Navy started the “combing operation” in four phases as directed by the government to engaging 11 naval ships and a large number of boats since January 12 while the third phase began on February 9.

According to the statement the special operation was being conducted Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Luxmipur, Chandpur, Khulna, Mongla, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Shariatpur, Barisal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur and Bhola coastlines and adjacent inland waters.

The campaign laid an extra emphasis to remove fishing nets which destroy fisheries in shallow waters having less than 10 meter depth.

The statement said the naval troops so far seized and destroyed a huge quantum of illegal fishing net, gillnets, current nets, mosquito nets and tong nets.

Mover, it said, the navy also was spearheading a public awareness campaign to stop the use of all illegal nets.

The third phase of the special combing operation started on February 9 and as of today the special combing operation was conducted by Navy ships and boats in outer anchorage and adjacent areas of Chattogram.

Special team of Bangladesh Navy, representatives of district administration and department of fisheries are taking part in the operation.

The special team conducted operation at Tajumuddin Upazila of Bhola district and seized over 30 lakh metres of illegal gillnets, 6.11 lakh metres of current nets, 3,400 metres of behundi nets and 21.60 lakh metres of pail nets from six shops. The estimated market value of those nets is Tk. 2.9 lakh.

Besides, 7,78,650 metres of nets and illegally captured fish were recovered during the operation in different areas.

The statement said in the third phase, illegal nets and fish worth about Tk. 21,62,670 were seized till yesterday and worth Taka 76,32,5,100 since the beginning of the operation.

It said necessary legal actions were also being taken is being taken against the accused in the operation.