Endangered Bagair Fish Trade Flourishes at Bangladesh Ferry Terminal Despite Legal Bans
Two critically endangered Bagair fish, weighing a combined 58 kilograms, were sold for 114,600 taka at the Daulatdia ferry terminal market in Rajbari, underscoring a persistent defiance of wildlife protection laws in the region. The larger of the two, weighing 32 kilograms, was caught by fisherman Nayan Haldar near the Manikganj border on Thursday morning, while a 26-kilogram specimen was hauled in by local fisherman Tara Mandal on Wednesday evening.
Local fish trader Shahjahan Sheikh purchased both fish through public auctions. He initially bought the 32-kilogram Bagair for 64,000 taka, subsequently reselling it to a Sylhet-based expatriate for 70,400 taka. The smaller fish was acquired for 41,600 taka and sold shortly after for 44,200 taka. According to Sheikh, the monsoon season has triggered a surge in catches, with at least 20 Bagair fish sold at the Daulatdia market within the last 15 days alone.
Despite the IUCN classifying the Bagair as a critically endangered species—rendering the hunting, capture, and sale of the fish a punishable offense under national wildlife conservation laws—the trade continues unabated in public view. Local authorities appear divided on how to address the ongoing violations.
Rajbari District Fisheries Officer Md. Mahabul Haque stated that his department lacks the direct mandate to intervene, suggesting that public awareness campaigns are the primary recourse. He noted that the responsibility for enforcement, such as conducting mobile courts, lies with the local administration.
Sathi Das, the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Goalando, acknowledged the incident following reports on social media. While noting that officials have previously discouraged fishermen and traders from targeting the protected species, she committed to investigating the matter further and implementing measures to curb the illegal trade of the endangered fish.
