Fish worth about Tk 4 lakh were killed after pesticide or poison was applied to Ladkibari Beel in Singra, Natore, threatening the wetland’s fish resources and biodiversity.
Residents noticed the dead fish floating on Monday morning, November 2. They suspected that unknown people had poisoned the water sometime on Sunday night.
Local people have been raising fish socially in Katuyabari and Ladkibari beels for about 40 years. Recently, about 50 people, including Asaduzzaman Babu, Abdul Kayum and Biplabur Rahman Sobuj of Katuyabari and Parsaoil villages, released carp worth about Tk 30 lakh into the beel.
A dispute later developed with former union council members Ashraful Islam and Rana Ahmed over control of the beel. Local people tried and failed to mediate.
Fish farmers Babu and Kayum said social fish farming had continued in the beel for about 40 years and alleged that one or two people outside the community were trying to create unrest.
Another farmer, Sobuj, said the poisoning caused losses of about Tk 4 lakh, but that they did not know who had done it.
Attempts to contact former union council member Ashraful Islam for comment found his phone switched off.
Senior upazila fisheries officer Shahadat Hossain said the poisoning had seriously damaged native fish and biodiversity. He said the matter would be investigated and action taken.
Singra police station officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam said legal action would follow if a written complaint was filed.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report