Fishing ‘permit’ in Tanguar Haor available for just Tk 400

A 'deal' can reportedly be secured for as little as Tk 400. Using such arrangements, illegal fishing is allegedly taking place under the cover of darkness inside the sanctuary of Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj, Bangladesh's second Ramsar site.

While it may sound unbelievable that such activities are occurring in one of the country's most important breeding grounds for native fish, Asia Post has obtained a video showing a negotiation over money between a community guard responsible for security and an illegal fisherman.

According to the investigation, the video captures a phone conversation between Nabi Hossain, an alleged member of an illegal fishing syndicate, and Habib Mia, a community guard employed by the Tanguar Haor Central Integrated Village Development Cooperative Society. Habib is a salaried employee of the cooperative and also operates a government patrol boat assigned to the Golabari Ansar Camp, which is responsible for protecting the haor.

A Tk 400 Pass to Enter the Fish Sanctuary

The recorded conversation clearly reveals Nabi Hossain, a fisherman from the Madhyanagar area, seeking Habib Mia's assistance in allowing three engine-powered boats from his group to enter Tanguar Haor at night to set khona fishing nets, which are prohibited. Habib's younger brother, Salman Shah—formerly a community guard and now working in Saudi Arabia—had reportedly provided Nabi with Habib's phone number.

Initially, Habib attempts to deny any involvement but later recognizes the caller. During the conversation, he demands Tk 500 per boat for a single night's access. Following the fisherman's request, he agrees to reduce the amount by Tk 100, settling on Tk 400 per boat. They also discuss transferring the payment via the bKash mobile financial service. However, it could not be confirmed whether the transaction was ultimately completed. Local residents have identified the voice in the video as that of Habib Mia.

The video was also shared with an official of the development organization CNRS. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a CNRS project officer said:

"Because local communities depend on the haor for their livelihoods, illegal fishing has not stopped. However, the primary reason the core sanctuary areas continue to experience the highest levels of poaching is the failure of those responsible for protecting the wetland to carry out their duties effectively."

Calls for a Multi-Year "Lockdown" to Save the Haor

Environmental activist Ahmad Kabir from Joypur village on the banks of Tanguar Haor told Asia Post:

"Although Tanguar Haor has been declared a Ramsar site, illegal fishing continues unabated. Large fishing nets are cast in the sanctuary's core-zone wetlands both at night and during the day. As a result, fish populations have declined dramatically compared with the past."

However, the accused community guard, Habib Mia, denied all allegations, saying:

"No fishing takes place in Tanguar Haor at night, and I am not involved in any such activities. A group has been spreading false information about me on Facebook for a long time in an attempt to remove me from this position."

Mostafa Mia, President of the Tanguar Haor Central Integrated Village Development Cooperative Society, said:

"We have not yet received any written complaint against community guard Habib Mia. Whenever we receive information about illegal fishing, we seize the nets and hand them over to the authorities."

Saleheen Chowdhury Shuvo, Executive Director of the Haor Area Upliftment Society (HOUSE), told Asia Post:

"Poor management and inadequate monitoring have caused the greatest damage to Tanguar Haor's ecosystem and fish resources. To protect the haor, it should be placed under a complete lockdown for several years."

Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mehdi Hasan Manik said:

"There is no opportunity for anyone to fish in Tanguar Haor at night in exchange for money. Members of the Ansar force conduct round-the-clock patrols and regularly destroy illegal fishing nets during enforcement operations. If we receive specific evidence against the accused community guard, the matter will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken."

A Ramsar Wetland Under Threat

Located approximately 40 kilometers from Sunamganj town, Tanguar Haor stretches across Tahirpur and Madhyanagar upazilas, covering an area of 12,655 hectares. The wetland contains 109 small and large beels (perennial water bodies), including 54 major ones.

After the abolition of its 70-year leasing system, Tanguar Haor was declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999. In 2000, it was designated a Ramsar Site, recognizing it as a wetland of international importance.

The haor was once home to 141 species of fish, including chital, mahashol, nanin, sarputi, baghair, and rita. However, due to illegal fishing and inadequate conservation, less than one-quarter of those fish populations are believed to remain today.