Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Rescues 36 Turtles, Detains 2 Persons
By Adnan Mahfuz
Members of the RAB-8 Patuakhali camp seized 36 turtles in separate raids in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila and Dumki Upazila.
A man with 29 turtles was arrested from a bus in front of the Patuakhali crossroads traffic police box on Tuesday night and a man with seven turtles from a ferry pier in Dumki Upazila on Monday afternoon.
Rabiul Islam, Assistant Director of RAB-8 Patuakhali camp, said a search was carried out on a bus leaving Kuakata for Jessore in front of the Patuakhali crossroads traffic box at around 8:15 pm on Tuesday.
Then 29 turtles were recovered, weighing 32 kg 700 g, and arrested a man named Suklal Biswas (35) at that time regarding this. His home is in Kalapara of the district.
The official further said that a man named Krishna Sarkar (40) was arrested from a bus in the Lebukhali Ferry Ghat area of Dumki around 1.30 pm on Monday. At that time seven turtles rescued from him. They weigh 5 kg 900 g. Krishna Sarkar’s house is in Mohankathi village of Ratanpur union in Agailjhara of Barisal.
Rabiul Islam said the two detainees had confessed to being involved in the tortoise business for a long time during interrogation. The rescued turtles have handed over to Sadar and Dumki police stations. RAB also has filed two separate cases with Sadar and Dumki police stations, and the case shows their arrest.
Incidentally, the tortoise has declared protected under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012. Therefore, hunting, selling, or handing over turtles to any person or organization is prohibited under this law. Violation of this is a punishable offense.
