Bangladesh Dispatches Vessels to Search for Burmese Poachers

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy have launched an operation to drive out Burmese poachers after the high authority reported that many fishing boats from Burma have been entering Bangladesh waters for fishing, reported a Bangladesh newspaper.

The report said that Coast Guard and Naval forces have launched searches for the Burmese fishing boats in likely spots along the maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal after receiving direction from the high authority.


A Coast Guard operation officer said they were informed by the fishing department on Saturday that some trawlers from Burma were fishing in the Bay in Bangladesh territory.

Afterward, Coast Guard patrol boats from four outposts - St. Martin Station, Teknaf Station, Cox's Bazar Station, and Shahpuri Station - rushed to the reported locations to drive out Burmese fishing boats, he said.

The Bangladesh Navy has also dispatched ships near the maritime boundary to search for Burmese fishing boats after receiving instructions from the high authority regarding the Burmese poachers.

On directives of the high command from headquarters, a naval ship is patrolling the reported spots, but there were no details on where the navy ship was patrolling at the moment.

However, Bangladesh authorities have not yet seized any fishing boats in Bangladesh waters as there are many canals flowing from Burma into the Bay of Bengal that fishermen are able to use to enter Bangladesh waters.

According to the report, Coast Guard members already started interrogations and gathering information from the locals and Bangladeshi fishermen who regularly go fishing in the Bay regarding the Burmese fishing boats intruding in Bangladesh waters.

There is still an unresolved maritime boundary dispute between Burma and Bangladesh, and both countries are being extra cautious about protecting their current boundary.

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