5 tonnes hilsa seized while being exported as koi fish
A task force team seized 5,000 kg of hilsa from Benapole port area while a Patuakhali-based exporter was sending it to India through false declaration as koi (cat) fish on Friday night, during the ongoing 11-day government ban on its catching and selling.
"An exporter from Patuakhali was preparing to send a five-tonne consignment in a truck to an Indian importer in Kolkata, declaring the item as koi fish. But the task force members found five tonnes of hilsa there. As catching and sale of the item is now prohibited under an 11-day ban by the government, the team seized the truckload of hilsa," said Benapole Fisheries Inspector Aminul Islam.
None of the exporting organisation could be arrested in this connection.
As Inspector Aminul Islam informed that no case was filed against the exporter, this correspondent asked him why they did not go for legal action despite the attempt to export the banned item through a false declaration.
The official failed to give any satisfactory answer.
At midnight, the task force sold in auction the 5000 kg hilsa at Tk 42 per kg.
Sharsha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamrul Arif let the driver of the hilsa-carrying truck go with the vehicle on 'humanitarian grounds'.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments