In a joint operation on Wednesday morning, the Upazila administration and Fisheries Department seized approximately 40 kilograms of banned piranha fish from a wholesale store (arat) in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria.
The raid was carried out at a fish storage facility in the upazila's sadar area, where the fish were being kept for sale. A trader named Kangsh Das was fined Tk 5,000 under the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (East Bengal Act XVIII of 1950).
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kazi Rabius Sarwar and Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Fahimul Arefin led the operation. Officials noted that the seized piranha, which resembles the popular Rupchanda fish, poses serious health and environmental risks and is banned for sale in Bangladesh.
“Piranha fish may look like Rupchanda, but it is dangerous for both consumers and the ecosystem,” said Assistant Commissioner Sarwar. “We are committed to stopping the sale of banned species.”
Local fishermen had previously alerted authorities that unethical traders were selling both piranha and chemically treated Magur fish, prompting increased monitoring of the market.
The confiscated fish were donated to a local orphanage instead of being discarded, a decision authorities said ensured the food would still benefit the community.
Officials have pledged continued market inspections to prevent the sale of illegal or harmful fish and to safeguard public health.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
