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Contribution of BN in Fishery Protection and Anti Smuggling Operation

Sub Lt. M S Islam, (X), BN
Bangladesh is a South Asian country having a vast coastal and sea area with enormous resources. The sea area includes the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 nautical miles in the seaward from its baseline. Our coastal and sea area can greatly contribute to the national effort for economic advancement provided that we successfully explore and utilize these valuable resources deposited and located in and around the area. Therefore, a potential amount of our national interests lies in the sea. Since there is a vast deposit of resources, the preservation of our territorial waters is substantially important. As a vital component of our Armed Forces, Bangladesh Navy (BN) is in constant vigilance of protecting these national resources by deploying its force equipped with modem naval hardware.
As our sea area contains abundant amount of fish and minerals, a number of foreign fishing trawlers from the states with close proximity often attempt to enter inside for pursuing their illegal activities. Moreover, sea is considered the easiest and most favourable means of transporting goods in bulk form. Therefore, smugglers use the sea route for transporting illegal and contraband items from one place to another. These items range from common consumer items to even arms ammunition and lethal drugs. In this situation, any unguarded sea can inflict a country's national security extremely vulnerable. Having well understood with this reality, BN lays its efforts to prevent such
illegal activities by the unscrupulous people around the sea.
month of January. During the breeding period, BN launches special drives to protect the popular fishery resources of the
Fishery Protection Operation
In recent years, ships and craft of BN apprehended a good number of foreign trawlers that were involved in illegal fishing inside our EEZ. Most of these trawlers belonged to neighbouring countries. The huge quantity and the variety of fishes in our EEZ arc the main attraction for the foreign trawlers. Moreover there arc reports of indiscriminate fishing of certain species and dumping of unattractive catch. This is against national interest from both economic and conservation points of view. The sea is important source of proteins for our people as well as foreign currency earning by exporting fishes. For planned expansion of fishery in our EEZ, BN with its limited number of patrol craft is doing utmost in fulfilling the national goal of economic development.
Jatka Protection Operation
BN ships and craft are deployed in jatka protection operation in rivers and estuaries. Recently BN personnel, during their three months long fishery protection campaign in the coastal areas seized a huge amount of illegal fishing nets. Usually hilsha breeding season starts from the
country. The Navy ships kec sharp vigilance along the va< coastal areas and important fis' breeding areas like Sundarbar Bhola, Kuakata, Borguns Khepupara, Chandpur am Pirozpur. The current jals (illegs type of fishing nets) captured fror the possession of unscrupulou fishermen are normally burnt ii presence of local people am fishery officials, while the seizes jatkas are handed over to the loca fishery authorities.
Anti Smuggling Operation
Smuggling is one of the mos serious problems that our countr is facing. Every year a hugi quantity of foreign goods is beinj smuggled in the country througl sea and border areas. It is reports that smuggling activities are oi the rise around the coastal areas o Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and St Martin’s Island. Generally cigarettes, electronic items condiments, fishing nets am household goods are beinj smuggled in as per marke demand. Sometimes gold, silver drug, arms and ammunitions etc are also smuggled through se; route. On the other hand fertilizer, medicine and fuel an smuggled out of the country. Thi
by merchant ships are unloaded at the pre-designated places and transferred accordingly to local agents by mechanized boats/trawlers. Large mechanized boats and trawlers are also used for the same. Smugglers have big network to support their ill activities.
As earlier mentioned that sea route is comparatively easy way of carrying contraband items for smuggling. Duc to many limitations, Custom authorities often face difficulties in checking smuggling at sea. Therefore, Bangladesh Navy provides its assistance to them with a view to preventing such illegal activities through sea route.
Conclusion
The contribution of Bangladesh Navy in respect of preserving our national resources located at the coastal water and sea is quite worth mentioning, which otherwise facilitates the national goal of achieving the economic advancement by optimum use of our every potentials. Besides, Navy takes part in different nation building activities, rescue and rehabilitation operations in natural disaster and improving law and order in the country. By laying their potentials in so many socially diversified arena, BN emerges as a real friend of the people indeed and renews their friendship when people are badly in need. With all the love for the people, BN firmly and committedly upholds the inviolability of our sovereignty at sea. Therefore, Navy very befittingly says: In War and Peace, Invincible at Sea.