At first glance, the bustling activity around Sunamganj’s water bodies might resemble a fishing festival—men, women, and even children vying to net the biggest catch.
But this is no celebration. Over the past six days, fish worth Tk 10 crore have been looted from eight government-leased water bodies across Dirai, Shalla, and Jamalganj upazilas, leaving lessees and authorities reeling.
The spree hit Betoir Bil in Dirai on Wednesday, March 5. The lessee, tipped off about planned looting the previous night, alerted Dirai police and the upazila administration. By 6:00am, two police teams, administrative officials, and army personnel were deployed to guard the bil.
Yet, their presence proved futile. Crowds from 15 nearby villages—Shyamarchar, Lalowarchar, Maiti, Kartikpur, and others—overwhelmed the site, plundering fish worth crores in broad daylight.
The looting extends beyond Betoir. In the last six days, similar raids have struck Satwa Bil, Kaman Bil, Meghna Bil, Atni Bil, Laira-Digha Bil, Chanpaita Bil, Shallar Joaria Bil, Bylla Bil, and Ayla Chagaiya Bil in Jamalganj, with villagers from 15–20 communities involved.
Sabbir Ahmed, caught fishing at Betoir, told Jago News, “There’s a variety of fish here—I’m taking as much as I can home.”
Altab Ali boasted, “I’ve nabbed a fish bigger than the beel itself for my family.”
Lessees are devastated. Obaidul, who manages Betoir Bil, lamented, “We’re ruined. They looted fish worth Tk 1 crore right in front of the administration. If they’d acted decisively, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Himadri Sarkar, lessee of Joaria Bil, added, “I’m stranded on the roadside after they stripped my bil of crores worth of fish in daylight.”
Police efforts have faltered. Dirai Police Station OC Abdur Razzak told Jago News, “We stationed two teams, along with upazila officials and the army, at Betoir by 6:00am, but the crowd was unmanageable. We’ll take legal action if lessees file complaints.”
Shalla Police Station OC Shafiqul Islam noted, “Thousands hit the bils at dawn. They’re too far from the station—by the time we arrive, they’re gone.”
Sunamganj Superintendent of Pplice Tapas Ranjan Ghosh pledged, “Police will do their utmost to stop this.”
District Jalmahal Management Committee President and Deputy Commissioner Dr Mohammad Ilias Mia told Jago News he would coordinate with law enforcement to address the crisis. For now, the unchecked looting of these vital resources continues, exposing the administration’s helplessness.