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Fish worth millions stolen in broad daylight as authorities fail to prevent looting in Sunamganj wetlands
Published : 10 Mar 2025, 01:50 AM
During the erstwhile Awami League government’s tenure, party leaders and their allied fishermen’s associations held a firm grip over the leasing of water bodies in the Haor region.
However, after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on Aug 5, the wetlands in Sunamganj have become hotspots for rampant illegal occupation and fish theft.
The situation has intensified beyond political influence -- entire villages are now openly taking control of others' leased water bodies and harvesting fish by force.
Despite intervention attempts by police, local administration, and even the army, authorities have failed to stop the practice.
Leaseholders stand helplessly by the water’s edge, watching as fish worth millions are stolen in broad daylight.
Their desperate pleas for intervention are going unheard.
Many believe that the growing lawlessness across the country has fuelled this breakdown of order in the Haor region.
Just last week, fish were looted from three leased water bodies in the Bethur River in Derai Upazila and from Aila Beel in Jamalganj Upazila.
Among the leaseholders in Derai, one is affiliated with the youth wing of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, while another is a Jubo Dal leader.
Meanwhile, some leaseholders of Aila Beel in Jamalganj are linked to the Awami League.
Despite the presence of Upazila administration officials, police, and the army from early morning, the leaseholders were unable to protect their rights.
In response, one leaseholder has already submitted an appeal for justice to the district administration.
Commenting on the situation, Deputy Commissioner Md Ilyas Mia said: "I have received a written complaint regarding the looting of a water body, and several similar incidents have occurred in recent days. These water bodies are leased by the district authorities."
"If this lawlessness continues, no one will be willing to lease them in the future, leading to hefty revenue losses for the government," he said.
LOOTING FRENZY
The Haor region, spanning six northeastern districts of Bangladesh, is one of the country's largest freshwater fish reserves.
These vast wetlands, home to thousands of water bodies, also serve as fertile ground for cultivating Boro rice during the dry season, playing a vital role in national food security.
Each year, the district administration leases out these water bodies for millions of taka to individuals and fisheries associations.
However, the leasing process is often marred by political favouritism and irregularities.
Leaseholders protect the fish year-round and begin harvesting in the Bengali month of Magh, January to February, as the water recedes.
Disputes over fishing rights are common and sometimes surge into violent clashes.
Since January, leaseholders have reported an alarming trend: villagers from surrounding areas have been openly announcing looting plans before storming in and seizing fish from these leased water bodies.
Armed with traditional weapons, they overpower the leaseholders and their guards, turning the looting into a mass event.
Some even dismantle bamboo enclosures, steal fishing nets, and take away other equipment.
Tensions are running high, with reports suggesting that social and political rivals are fuelling the unrest.
On Mar 4, residents from five to six villages near the Bethur River in Derai Upazila publicly declared their intention to loot fish from two leased segments of the river.
Ubaidul Haque Chowdhury, the leaseholder and a leader of the district’s youth wing of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, was alerted by local villagers and his guards.
He immediately informed the Upazila executive officer, or UNO, who then notified police and army camp.
By dawn, local authorities, police, and army personnel arrived at the scene.
However, by that time, thousands of villagers had already gathered around the massive water body, armed with fishing equipment and traditional weapons, ready to loot.
Despite repeated warnings over loudspeakers urging them to stop, the crowd ignored the authorities.
Within moments, thousands rushed into the water, indiscriminately hauling in fish.
As the situation spiralled out of control, law enforcement and local officials withdrew from the area by 10am.
Describing the devastation, Ubaidul said: "This water body was leased under the Hossain Mia Machhranga Association.
Fish worth nearly Tk 9 million have been stolen. I employ eight guards and staff members, spending Tk 200,000 per month on security."
"People from Samarchar, Channar Char, Dhalpur, and Shormongol villages gathered at the water body's edge the night before. At dawn, when the UNO and assistant commissioner arrived, thousands stormed in, breaking through the barriers and looting fish worth Tk 90 to 100 million. I was powerless to stop them."
The second segment of the looted water body was leased by Kiran Hasan Chowdhury, general secretary of the Derai Upazila Jubo Dal.
He had secured the lease for six years, now in its fourth year.
"Looting is happening across all water bodies in Derai Upazila. Knowing ours would be next, I contacted the administration, and they did respond. But in the end, it didn’t matter."
"The looters announced their plan before taking over my water body. They came armed with weapons and took everything. The administration tried, but they failed. There was nothing we could do."
Derai Police Station chief Abdur Razzak acknowledged the overwhelming situation.
"We arrived with police and army personnel only to find thousands of people already there. We were on one side of the vast water body, and they were on the other. Even after repeated warnings, they did not listen. Defying our orders, they went into the water and took the fish away."
POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN LEASING PROCESS
According to officials from the Sunamganj district administration, water bodies are leased for periods ranging from two to six years through an online bidding process, with the highest bidder securing the lease.
These leases generate significant government revenue, and leaseholders typically harvest fish between January and April.
However, there are allegations that during the Awami League's rule, party leaders and activists manipulated the leasing process, using their political influence to secure leases through favoured fisheries associations.
Following the government's fall on Aug 5, many of these politically connected leaseholders began losing control of their water bodies.
Locals believe that these takeovers are fuelled by both political motivations and encouragement from groups that had previously been excluded from the leasing process.
Disputes over water body leases have long been a source of political conflict.
Prof Chittaranjan Talukdar, vice president of the Haor Conservation Movement, said: "There have always been irregularities in the leasing system, which often deprive genuine fishermen of their rights. However, we have never seen such widespread and organised looting of one water body after another.
“What is happening now resembles mob justice. If this continues, it will severely impact the leasing system," he said.
'BEGGING DIDN'T HELP'
On Feb 28, thousands of locals raided Kaman Beel in Derai Upazila's Charnarchar Union, looting fish in broad daylight. Residents from three villages arrived with fishing nets and other gear, seizing the fish openly.
When the leaseholders’ representatives attempted to stop them, they were threatened and forced to retreat.
Recounting the incident, Sudhir Bishwas, general secretary of the Charnarchar ABM Fisheries Cooperative Society and the leaseholder of the water body, said: "This water body was part of a government project, and this was supposed to be our fishing season. But on Feb 28, our entire stock was looted. We have suffered a loss of around Tk 150 million. We are completely devastated."
Derai Police Station chief Razzak confirmed the looting.
"We visited the site and saw thousands of people taking the fish. No case has been filed so far regarding the incident."
A similar incident took place on Mar 1, when the Jowaria water body in Shalla Upazila, leased under the Jatrapur Fisheries Cooperative Society, was looted.
Hundreds of people stormed the area in a festive mood, taking away all the fish.
Badal Chandra Das, a leaseholder of Jowaria, expressed his frustration, saying: "They didn’t just steal the fish, they also took down the barriers and fishing equipment. I begged them to stop, but it was no use."
When asked about the losses, he estimated them at around Tk 50 million.
The looting continued across other areas.
On Mar 4, fish worth nearly Tk 100 million were seized from Sattua Beel in Atgaon Union.
That same day, Baillya Beel and the Borgao Iyarabad Group water bodies were also raided.
The mass looting trend had already begun earlier in the year.
On Jan 25, fish were stolen from the Monai River, also called Sunoi River, in Dharmapasha Upazila.
Shahjahan Mia, a leaseholder of the Monai River water body, recounted his ordeal.
"An armed group from Bekhoijora village stormed our water body and took everything. We were just preparing for the fishing season when they destroyed everything for us."
Shalla Police Station chief Md Shafiqul Islam, acknowledged the growing crisis.
"In the past few days, two large water bodies in Shalla have been looted by unauthorised groups. By the time we received reports and arrived with police forces, the looters had already fled. No formal complaints have been filed so far."
RESISTANCE LEADS TO CLASHES
On Friday, the Sattua water body in Atgaon Union of Shalla Upazila was looted for the second time.
When the administration attempted to intervene, the looters attacked them.
They also set fire to two huts and a boat belonging to the leaseholder.
Pranesh Lal Das, president of the Jarulia Fishermen's Association and a stakeholder in the leased water body, said: “This water body is part of a project. It has taken time and effort to create a fish sanctuary, and harvesting must be done at the designated time.
“But this season, the water body has been looted twice during the harvesting period, causing us losses worth crores of taka.”
On Thursday, hundreds of people attempted to loot fish from Balia Beel in Derai Upazila.
However, locals from Chandpur village on the banks of the water body resisted, forcing the looters to retreat, according to the leaseholder.
A similar attempt was made on Saturday in Khaliajuri Upazila of Netrokona, where thousands of people gathered on the banks of the Dhanu River, arriving in over a hundred vehicles.
Armed with fishing equipment and makeshift weapons, they sought to loot fish from two government-leased water bodies, Kathaljan and Moragang.
However, local residents resisted, leading to clashes.
At Rasulpur ferry terminal, agitated crowds vandalised over a hundred vehicles and set some on fire.
Around fifty people from both sides suffered injuries.
The Upazila administration, law-enforcing agencies, and army personnel eventually brought the situation under control.
On Thursday, residents from several villages looted fish from Katuya water body near Sakitpur village in Derai Upazila.
On the same day, people from Sonakani and Mirzapur villages in Shalla Upazila looted fish from Kalkaliya Beel.
LEGAL ACTION AND ARRESTS
Following the looting of the water body in Derai Upazila, the leaseholder filed a case against around two thousand people from several villages, including Shormongol, Dhanpur, Ghagatia, Baushi, Chandipur, Kalyani, and Bhangadhar.
The case specifically names twenty-two people.
Police from Derai Police Station have already arrested eight suspects in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, on Friday and Saturday, the district administration and police held discussions with local residents in Derai and Shalla to prevent further looting of water bodies.
Officials urged people to refrain from looting government-leased water bodies and warned of strict action against any violations.
The discussions were attended by District Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia, Acting Superintendent of Police Tapas Ranjan Ghosh, and senior officials from Derai and Shalla police administration.
