News Flash
COX'S BAZAR, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - An endangered mother turtle was rescued late Sunday night and released into the Bay of Bengal in Pekua upazila of Cox's Bazar district by the Forest Department.
A team led by Barabakia Range Officer of the Chattogram South Forest Division, Khalequzzaman Mamun, conducted the rescue operation around 11:00 pm in the Jaliyakhali area under Pekua Sadar Union. The turtle was later released into the sea through the Magnama-Kutubdia Channel.
Range Officer Mamun said they were informed by a local environmental activist that a large marine mother turtle had become trapped in fishing net at Jaliyakhali.
Acting on the information, our team rushed to the spot and rescued the turtle from the house of a local fisherman named Shahin, he said.
Mamun added that the turtle might have entered the river to lay eggs and was accidentally caught in the fishing net. As it had been kept on land for a long time after being taken home by the fisherman, the turtle became weak.
"For this reason, we released it into the sea immediately. After release, the turtle swam away and dived into deep waters," he added.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Pekua unit spokesperson F M Suman said he informed the Forest Department immediately after learning about the incident. Swift action taken by the authorities and urged both the government and the public to take active responsibility in protecting endangered marine and wildlife species.
Local witness said they had never seen such a turtle in the river before. Weighing around 50 kilograms, they described it as a massive mother turtle.
