Fish poison is using at night in the canals of Sundarbans. There is no effective initiative to prevent this destruction. A group of unscrupulous fishermen has been catching fish in the canals of the Sundarbans with this poison. Due to this, native species of fish are being threatened.
Fish poison or pesticide is available at hand of the fishermen. There is no rule present. This poison can be found in any pesticide stores. But shopkeepers say that pesticides are not the only used for catching fish.
It is known that the huge water area is about 31.15 percent of the Sundarbans. About three hundred species of fish are present in numerous canals of this area though some canals have been banned for catching fish from the forest department.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of west range of forest division Bashirul Al Mamun told the Bangla Tribune that 18 canals under four ranges of Sundarbans’ East and West divisions were banned for fishing. Fishing is abandoned in the fish breeding area and law enforcement agencies will take necessary steps if someone does so. He also said that should take legal action against those who violate the prohibition of fish breeding. In the last five years, 37 accused have been sent to jail for the crime, said the forest officer.
In June, Coast Guard detained four fishermen while fishing. Later, they were handed over to the Koyra Police Station in Khulna. Coast Guard of West Jone (Mongla headquarters) operation officer Lt. Commander Fariduzzaman told the Bangla Tribune that only other species of fish are not destroyed due to the poison of the Sundarbans, there is a loss of forest and environment.

‘Coastguard is preparing to take tough action to make zero intention rate of poisoning in the Sundarbans. At the same time, the mercenaries of the fishermen will be identified who gave them poison for catching fish in the canal of the forest,’ he added.
Yet the destruction by catching fish by poison in the Sundarbans does not stop. A group of unscrupulous fishermen continues to poison the fish to catch them. Pradip Mondal, Alamgir, and Nazrul of Joymani village of Sundarbans Upazila talked on this matter with the reporter. They have admitted that they catch fish with poison in different banned canals of the Sundarbans hoping for more profit. Fishermen claim that this poison can be collected from any pesticide shop of the market.
Selim, the owner of fertilizer and pesticide shop named Janata Enterprise at Mongla Bazar, talked about this matter with Bangla Tribune. He said, ‘Farmers buy the Pesticides named Dynamo, Fighter, Ripcord, Pesicol to use them as a pesticide in farming the crops. They do not know whether the fish are killed with this in the canals of the Sundarbans, said the shopkeeper. He said the insecticide sold after the approval of the Agriculture Department.
In this regard, Mongla Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun told the Bangla Tribune that he urged the administration to be tough on several occasions in the law and order meeting to stop the misuse of this pesticide. The forest department also said to stay alert as well.
It is known that some local people of the Sunderban’s Dhagmari, Marapashur, Zhongra and Jhapshi area are constantly catching fish with poison. This poisonous water comes down from the canals to the rivers of the Sundarbans. Due to this death, no more small fish are available in the river.
Doctors say that this toxic water fish is harmful to the body. Chief of Mongla Upazila Health Department Jibetesh Biswas told the Bangla Tribune that eating poisonous water fish, complications of human kidney and liver may arise. He urged the law enforcing agencies to be more careful to stop fish catching with the poison.