Half a tonne Stingrays seized in Patuakhali transport shock

The Forest Department seized five endangered stingrays weighing a total of 498 kg from an Antara Paribahan bus in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali district on Sunday.

The raid was conducted around 12 noon in front of Bauphal Police Station after the department received secret information about the illegal transportation.

Bauphal Forest Department officer Badiuzzaman Sohag said a team intercepted the Dhaka-bound bus and recovered the five large stingrays packed inside. “Despite a complete ban on catching, killing, transporting, and selling stingrays under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012, poachers are still smuggling these protected marine species,” he added.

Stingrays are listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Act, making any trade in the species a non-bailable offence punishable by up to 7 years’ imprisonment.