70kg venison seized near Sundarbans

Forest officials, assisted by law enforcement agencies, recovered around 70 kilograms of fresh venison during a late-night raid in a Sundarbans-adjacent area of Koyra upazila in Khulna on Sunday.

However, the suspected poachers managed to flee after sensing the presence of the raiding team.
The operation was led by Md Nasir Uddin, Deputy Ranger of the Kashiabad Forest Station, at a char along the Shakbaria River.

According to AZM Hasanur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), the raid was conducted following a tip-off that venison from deer illegally hunted in the Sundarbans was being transported to nearby areas for trafficking.

AZM Hasanur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans West Forest Division, told The New Nation on Monday that a case had been filed with the Koyra court under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act.

He said the recovered venison would be buried after obtaining the court’s permission.
As the raiding team approached, the suspects abandoned a boat and the meat in the Golbagan area before fleeing.

“We conducted the raid while the poachers were transporting venison from the Sundarbans to nearby localities. Sensing our presence, they fled, leaving behind the boat and the meat,” Nasir Uddin said.
Forest officials seized approximately 70kg of venison, two deer heads, a boat and various hunting equipment from the scene.

According to Forest Department data, authorities recovered a total of 571kg of venison in separate drives across the Sundarbans during the 2025-26 fiscal year. During the same period, they arrested 21 suspects and seized hunting equipment, as well as deer hides, heads and legs.