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The Bangladesh Navy's "Special Combing Operation-2025," under the "In Aid to Civil Power" initiative, aimed at protecting the country's fisheries resources and biodiversity, concluded on Friday.
The operation, which began on January 12, was carried out in four phases, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, according to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.
The Navy conducted special combing operations across 16 districts, including Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Shariatpur, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Bhola, and Munshiganj.
The operation involved 12 ship bases of the Bangladesh Navy and numerous boats. A total of 303 operations were conducted in four phases: January 12-19, January 25-31, February 9-15, and February 21-28, 2025, the release mentioned.
Illegal nets and jatkas worth more than Tk 132 crore were seized during the operation.
Fishing nets were burned and destroyed in the presence of local authorities, while jatka fish were donated to local orphanages.
Additionally, public awareness campaigns were held in surrounding areas to discourage the use of illegal fishing nets and promote legal fish harvesting, the release added.
The Bangladesh Navy has been conducting special operations in coastal districts since 2021 to protect jatka, and currently, seven ship bases are deployed in nine districts to prevent jatka fishing.