DHAKA, March 1, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh Navy, in their 303 drives under four-
phase special combing operation-25, has seized huge quantity of illegal and
banned nets and jatka [Hilsa Fry] worth Taka 132,47,66,100 from different
parts of the country.

A total of 12 navy ships and a good number of boats took part in the four-
phase special combing operations at 16 districts-- Chattogram, Cox's Bazar,
Noakhali, Luxmipur, Chandpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Shariatpur,
Barishal, Jhalkathi, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Bhola and Munshiganj-- in
the country's coastal areas, said a release of Inter-Services Public
Relations (ISPR) here today.

The Navy, in aid to civil power' started the operation on January 12 to
protect the fisheries and biodiversity of the coastal belt and ended it on
February 28, it said.

As part of the operation, the Navy along with other law enforcing agencies,
conducted the operations at the water bodies of the coastal belt and
confluences of the rivers less than 10 feet depth to remove illegal nets for
the development of the fisheries sector.

During the operations, Bangladesh Navy seized 1,76,65,800 meters of different
types of illegal nets, 542 different types of banned nets and 109 kilograms
of jatka (small Hilsha fry) worth about Taka 132,47,66,100 from those
districts.

All the seized nets were destroyed in presence of the local administration
and the seized jatka fish were distributed to various orphanages.
 
The Navy has started the special combing operation at the coastal districts
since 2021.

A total of seven naval bases of the Bangladesh Navy have been engaged in nine
districts under the coastal belts to stop fishing of the jatka.