More Than 50 Fishing Boats Searched to Ensure Safe Navigation; 24 Individuals Sentenced to One Month in Jail

Photo: CNI

Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: More than 50 fishing boats were searched to ensure the safe movement of vessels, resulting in the detention of 24 individuals. The detained individuals were each sentenced to 30 days in prison by the Port Magistrate.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon confirmed the information on Wednesday (August 12) afternoon.

He said that a joint operation was conducted at the Chattogram outer anchorage from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, by the Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Navy, and Chattogram Port Authority to ensure security in the country’s seaports, coastal areas, and riverbank regions.

The operation involved the Coast Guard patrol vessel BCGS Sonadia, several high-speed boats, and Dishari-7 of the Chattogram Port Authority. Operational teams from the Coast Guard and Navy, along with the Port Magistrate, were also present.

During the operation, fishing boats stationed at the outer anchorage and various types of illegally installed fishing nets were identified and removed. The operation aimed to prevent obstruction to the safe movement of commercial vessels and lighters in the Chattogram outer anchorage and the Karnaphuli Channel, as well as to prevent petty theft from commercial vessels. The illegal nets were creating obstacles to vessel movement and increasing the risk of accidents.

More than 50 illegally stationed fishing boats at the outer anchorage were searched, and a total of 24 fishermen were detained. The Port Magistrate subsequently sentenced each of the detained individuals to 30 days in prison.

He further said that the Bangladesh Coast Guard would continue regular operations and surveillance activities in coordination with relevant agencies under a “zero-tolerance” policy to ensure the safe movement of domestic and foreign commercial vessels and lighters at Chattogram Port and its outer anchorage, keep maritime trade and waterways operational, and prevent petty theft, illegal fishing-net installations, and other unlawful activities.