Fine for selling banned piranha in Burichang; 50 kg of fish distributed to orphanage

Daily Bijoy News, Comilla Correspondent:

A mobile court has fined a fish trader Tk 2,000 for selling the banned piranha fish in Burichang upazila of Comilla. Approximately 50 kg of piranha fish were seized during the drive. The drive was conducted at Kanganagar Bazar in Varella North Union of the upazila on Sunday (October 12) at 11:00 AM by Sonia Haque, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate of Burichang Upazila. The drive was assisted by Burichang Upazila Fisheries Officer Subrata Goswami, Officer-in-Charge of Debpur Police Outpost Saidul Islam, and a team of police. During the drive, evidence of selling the banned piranha fish was found at a fish shop in the market. Later, the mobile court fined the fish trader, Russel, Tk 2,000 under the Fish Act.

Subsequently, the seized 50 kg of fish were distributed to an orphanage adjacent to Kanganagar Bazar. Fisheries Officer Subrata Goswami said, "Piranha is an aggressive and harmful foreign fish. It destroys native fish and poses a threat to biodiversity. The government has completely banned the production, farming, and sale of this fish. Regular monitoring will continue to ensure no one sells this fish in the market." After the drive, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sonia Haque said, "Despite the government ban, if anyone sells piranha, strict legal action will be taken against them. Such drives will continue in the public interest."

Daily Bijoy News/ Md. Abdullah