Police watch as thousands loot fish from Sunamganj beels following public announcement to do so

Beels in Derai and Shalla upazilas of Sunamganj have seen rampant fish looting, with thousands of people descending into water bodies to seize fish after public announcements over mike, often in the presence of the police. 

Leaseholders claimed that fish worth around Tk4 crore have been taken from at least eight beels.

The looting began last Friday morning when 500-700 people forcibly took fish from Kaman-Kachma beel near Charnarachar village in Derai upazila. The following day, another 8,000-10,000 people arrived in various vehicles and continued the looting. Since then, the looting has been ongoing.

Alongside Kaman-Kachma, Shatoa, Bailla, and Bhatigang beels, fish have also been looted from Jowaria beel in Shalla, Atni beel in Derai, and Laira-Digha and Choinpatta beel.

A local source said there are about 30 beels in Sunamganj. These beels, which are under the control of the district administration, are leased to various fishermen's associations. There is a dispute between local influential people and fishermen's associations over the lease of the beels. Owing to these disputes and a lax law and order situation, incidents of looting are taking place by inciting locals.

Yesterday (5 March), fish were looted from Kashiapur Shatoa beel in Shalla upazila. Locals said announcement about the looting were made via mike in several nearby areas the day before.

According to sources, yesterday morning, around 8,000 to 10,000 people from 10-15 villages in Derai and Shalla upazilas entered the beel with fishing gear and took fish at will. 

Despite 8-10 police personnel being present on the banks, they did not intervene. The same day, fish were also looted from Bailla beel near Kashiapur village and Bhatigang beel in Iyarabad village.

Shatoa beel is leased to a cooperative organisation called North Jarulia Matshyajibi Samabay Samiti Limited.

Describing the looting, the organisation's General Secretary Projesh Das said, "I have never seen anything like this before. It was mass-scale looting. We pay Tk45 lakh in revenue every year. Fishing was scheduled for next year, as per our three-year lease agreement. However, in just two days, 10,000-15,000 people have looted fish worth over Tk1 crore from our beel."

Sudhir Biswas, general secretary of Charnarachar BM Matshyajibi Samabay Samiti Limited, which leases Kaman-Kachma beel, said, "We pay over Tk50 lakh in revenue to the government annually. In just two days, fish worth nearly Tk2 crore have been looted from our beel. Large boal and airh fish, weighing 15-20kg each, were taken away in vehicles."

"The police stood by as the fish were taken. There was nothing they could do, as there were only 10 of them against 8,000-10,000 people," he added. 

Local residents and leaseholders have alleged that people from villages including Shyamarachar, Lalowarchar, Maiti, Kartikpur, Noagaon, Chikadupi, Ballovpur, Ujangao, Sonakani, Nijgaon, Mirzapur, Rahutola, Sharifpur, and Kashiapur have been involved in the looting of fish from Derai-Shalla's Kaman and Laira-Digha beels.

Those opposing the looting have also faced attacks. In Shalla's Atgao village, looters vandalised the house and autorickshaw of Roni Billal for protesting against the looting. His younger brother's motorcycle was also reportedly destroyed.

However, police have assured that action will be taken against those responsible.

Sunamganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) Zakir Hossain said, "We have received complaints regarding fish looting in several beels. The perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice."

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, around 1,000 people from Chabbisha, Dampur, Kandigaon, Iyarabad, Kandokola, Raghunathpur, and Jatrapur villages forcibly took fish from Jowaria beel near Jatrapur village in Shalla. Although guards were present at the beel, they remained silent due to the overwhelming number of looters.

Himadri Sarkar, president of Jatrapur Hilip Matshyajibi Samabay Samiti Limited, which leases Jowaria beel, said, "We spent around Tk30 lakh on setting up bamboo enclosures and hiring guards. Fishing was scheduled for next year, but in just two days, fish worth nearly Tk50 lakh have been taken."

"Around 1,000 people entered the beel and looted fish. We have no conflicts with anyone, so we don't understand why this happened," he added.

On Sunday morning, people from several villages also looted fish from Meghna-Barghar beel and Atni beel near Jaipur village in Shalla. The following Monday, around 8,000-10,000 people looted fish worth nearly Tk1 crore from the reserved sections of Laira-Digha and Choinpatta beel in Derai upazila.

Regarding the looting, Dirai police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Razzak said, "We heard that fishing was nearly completed in Meghna and Kaman beels. Some local people have taken fish from certain beels. We have received complaints about forced fishing in parts of Laira-Digha beel and will investigate the matter."

Shalla police station OC Shafiqul Islam said, "Upon hearing about the looting in Jowaria beel, we sent police to disperse the people."

"Thousands of people go fishing at dawn. These beels are far from the police station, so by the time police arrive, the people have already left" he added.

Regarding the situation, Sunamganj District Jalmahal Management Committee President and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia said, "We have received reports of forced fishing from one jalmahal in Derai. We have not received any other complaints yet, but we will investigate."

"I have discussed the matter with law enforcement agencies to identify those involved in the looting," he added.