377 held for Sundarbans forest crimes in one year

A total of 377 people have been arrested for forest-related crimes in the Eastern Sundarbans over the past year during operations conducted by forest guards.

More than 114,000 feet of deer-catching traps, 249 kilograms of venison, and 448 trawlers and boats were seized during the period.

According to the Forest Department, 241 cases were filed between May 2025 and April 2026 in connection with various forest crimes in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges under the Eastern Division of the Sundarbans.

Forest guards conducted 474 operations during the period to prevent the hunting of deer and other wildlife.

Patrol teams carried out extensive operations, often on foot, in remote areas deep inside the forest.

Of the 396 accused named in the cases, 377 were arrested and sent to jail through court orders.

During the operations, forest guards seized 114,553 feet of deer-catching traps from various locations in the Sundarbans, covering an area of about 35 kilometers. They also recovered 249 kilograms of venison.

In addition, the authorities seized 448 trawlers and boats, 8,331 illegal crab traps, 300 feet of fishing nets, 217 kilograms of various fish, 724 kilograms of poisoned fish, 96 bottles of poison, five packets of fish poison powder, 22 bags of dried shrimp processed with poison, and 1,066 kilograms of illegally harvested crabs.

During the same period, forest guards rescued one Royal Bengal tiger and 22 deer from poachers’ traps.

Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans Division in Bagerhat, said forest crimes in the Sundarbans have declined significantly compared to previous years.

“Despite the difficulties of patrolling remote forest areas, forest guards have been successful in reducing forest crimes through regular monitoring and operations,” he said.

The DFO said that 249 kilograms of venison were seized during the period, which was 7.8 kilograms less than the previous year.

He also said that, to prevent wildlife poaching, the Forest Department has prepared a list of 150 suspected deer poachers under the Eastern Sundarbans Division.

The list has been shared with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and the suspects are being kept under surveillance.