A mobile court in Muladi, Barishal, has seized about 700 kg of poa fish laced with chemicals. The fish was later buried and destroyed, and a fish trader named Mojibur Rahman was detained and fined Tk 50,000.

The drive took place on the morning of Monday, 15 September, in the Purba Bazar old launch ghat area of Muladi port and near Muladi Bandar Government Primary School. It was led by upazila assistant commissioner (land) and executive magistrate Parag Saha, with senior upazila fisheries officer Md Abul Bashar and Muladi police in attendance.

According to the administration, a harmful chemical was being mixed in to colour white poa fish artificially red. Acting on a tip-off, the court raided the Purba Bazar area of the port and seized the fish, which was then buried on the bank of the Nayabhangani river.

Senior upazila fisheries officer Md Abul Bashar said fish treated with chemical dye is harmful to public health, and the drive was carried out to stop such fish reaching the market. The detained trader was fined Tk 50,000 through the mobile court.

River and sea poa is a popular fish in the southern markets; dyeing it to fetch a higher price harms consumers and undercuts honest traders. Continued checks at the ghats and wholesale yards are what will bring buyers' confidence back.

Source: banglanews24