Golam Mostofa: Snail killing has been going on in the Chalanbil region for the past several years during the rainy season. This is putting biodiversity and the environment at serious risk. A mobile court has been set up to save snails, known as the natural filter of the beel water. On Tuesday morning, the Rajshahi Divisional Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, Tarash Upazila Administration jointly conducted a drive at several snail trading locations in Tarash Upazila of Sirajganj, where Chalanbil is located.
Wildlife Inspector of the Rajshahi Divisional Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department Md. Jahangir Hossain said that 8 people were fined for catching snails during a drive from Tarash to Dighisguna, Kamarshan, and Kundail areas on the Gurudaspur Maitri Road. 60 sacks and 7 boats full of snails were released into the beel water.
It is known that people go out to catch snails at night. They catch snails all night by pulling a ladder net. In the morning, they come to sell them on a shallow machine boat. There is a huge demand for snails among farmers, especially for feeding ducks.
Meanwhile, Abdur Razzak Raju, convener of the Tarash Upazila branch of the Chalanbil Raksha Andolon Committee, has praised the Rajshahi Divisional Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, Tarash Upazila administration. He also said that the implementation of the law has started, albeit late. Snails play an important role in protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance. Killing snails indiscriminately disrupts the balance. In addition to implementing the law, a widespread awareness campaign should be conducted to protect the biodiversity of Chalanbil.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) AZM Nahid Hossain told The Muslim Times that according to the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act, 2012, the crime of killing snails is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to Tk 50,000 or both. In addition, if the same crime is repeated, the punishment will be imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to Tk 2 lakh or both. The mobile court’s campaign to stop snail killing will continue.
