Freshwater crocodile caught in fishing gear in Padma River, handed over to authorities
The crocodile was caught in a “Hazari Borshi” set by fisherman.
A crocodile has been caught in a fisherman's fishing gear in the Padma River in Charbhadrasan of Faridpur.
As it is a rare species of freshwater crocodile, the fisherman did not kill it but instead brought it today (27 April) to Kazi Bari Ghat of Charbhadrasan Sadar union to hand it over to the relevant authorities.
The crocodile was caught in a "Hazari Borshi" (a traditional fishing line with thousands of small hooks) set by fisherman Swapan Bepari in the Padma River near Gopalpur Char at around 7am today.
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At the time, Swapan Bepari, along with his two sons, Rajib Bepari and Robiul Bepari and five others, rescued the crocodile and brought it to the riverbank. All of them are residents of the Char Salepur area of the upazila.
Later, around 8am, the crocodile was taken to Kazi Bari Ghat to be handed over to the relevant authorities.
Swapan Bepari said he regularly sets "Hazari Borshi" in the Padma to catch large fish.
He set the line in the Gopalpur Char area last night and found a crocodile entangled in multiple hooks and strings this morning.
"I know that killing a crocodile is a crime. Therefore, with the help of my sons and others, I brought it from the river to Kazi Bari Ghat to hand it over to the concerned officials," he added.
According to Swapan, the crocodile is approximately seven feet long and weighs nearly 60kg.
Charbhadrasan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Anwar Hossain said the crocodile has been tied in the water at Kazi Bari Ghat.
Police have been deployed to prevent any harm to the animal until a rescue team from Khulna arrives to take custody of it, he added.
Faridpur Forest Department Ranger Tawhid Hossain said the crocodile's exact length, width and weight cannot yet be confirmed as it remains tied in the water, but it appears to be an endangered freshwater species.
Charbhadrasan Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shuraiya Mamtaz said, "We contacted the Forest Department as soon as we learned of the incident. Wildlife conservation officials will rescue the crocodile and move it to a safe location."
