Lucrative aquatic creatures of Laksam now being smuggled as ' Golden Fish
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Moshiur Rahman Selim, Laksam, Cumilla
From the remote areas of the greater Laksam Upazila in the southern region of Cumilla, people from specific communities, including the Santhal, are capturing various amphibians and aquatic creatures such as monitor lizards, turtles, koi fish, crabs, and frogs.
They are smuggling these aquatic creatures abroad under the name "Golden Fish." While this poses a severe threat to the region's environment, it remains their primary means of livelihood. However, these creatures are being smuggled across district borders through various transportation means right under the nose of the local administration. Allegations have surfaced that a section of the local administration and political figures are colluding to facilitate this smuggling.
Multiple sources from the southern region of the district report that people from various communities, including the Santhal, illegally cross the Indian border to capture these ecologically vital aquatic creatures and smuggle them to countries such as India, Myanmar, China, Singapore, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, and Korea through illegal channels.
Despite the severe threat to the natural environment, the local administration has taken no initiatives to protect these creatures. Due to the rising demand for these aquatic creatures in border markets, smuggling through illegal routes has become rampant. Specifically, these creatures, including koi fish, turtles, and crabs, are found in abundance in the Dakatia River, as well as nearby ponds, ditches, canals, and wetlands across the five upazilas in the southern region of the district. Additionally, various types of monitor lizards and frogs are plentiful in forests, jungles, and hilly areas. Local environmentalists state that these creatures play a significant role in maintaining ecological balance. Throughout the year, not only local people but also groups from specific communities crossing the Indian border capture these aquatic and amphibian creatures freely using specialized techniques. Approximately 150 people in this region are engaged in this profession. Evading the local administration, these hunting groups transport the creatures daily via buses, trucks, trains, and other vehicles to border markets in Cumilla and India.
Sources further reveal that in various border markets of the district, koi fish are sold wholesale at 500-600 taka per kilogram, turtles at 400-500 taka, crabs at 500-600 taka, monitor lizards at 450-500 taka, and frogs at 1,500-2,000 taka. Retail prices are even higher. These creatures are being smuggled in large quantities to countries like India, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, and China, where they are considered a delicacy. Additionally, as these creatures are also favored by specific local communities, they are being hunted indiscriminately.
A local environmentalist and a source from a specific community report that various roads in the southeastern region of Cumilla are being used as safe routes for smuggling these creatures. Several smuggling syndicates, operating under pseudonyms, control this trade, directly or indirectly involving over 200 families from the Indian border areas who are attempting to achieve financial stability. Since the Muslim-dominated southern region's five upazilas have little local demand for these creatures, people from specific communities coming from outside face little resistance or prohibition from locals when capturing them.
The source further explains that koi fish, also known as kuchia, kuche fish, or baim in different regions, has the scientific name *Monopterus*. Depending on the species, koi fish can grow longer than 30-40 centimeters. They inhabit shallow rivers, canals, wetlands, ponds, ditches, and soft soil. Koi fish are predatory, feeding primarily on small fish, snails, worms, and even debris.
Many traditional healers recommend koi fish as part of a patient's diet. However, these creatures are in high demand among specific communities. Additionally, these aquatic creatures are known as "Golden Fish" in some countries, where they are sold at approximately 10 dollars per 100 grams in various border markets. In large hotels and restaurants, a plate of these creatures is sold for around 800 taka in local currency.
A source from a group of foreign aquatic creature hunters entering the country illegally reveals that many traders in the Indian border areas invest significant sums annually to purchase equipment for hunting these creatures. Hunters use bamboo traps, nets, hooks, specially designed traps, or even their bare hands with specialized techniques to capture these aquatic and amphibian creatures. These ecologically vital creatures, which maintain environmental balance, are constantly falling prey to illegal hunters and are being destroyed daily.
Conversations with a group of hunters from Ghoshkhamar village in Rajnagar Thana, Tripura, India, reveal that a group of Santhal youths, including Raju, Shyamal, Pradhan, Sarkar, Krishnanil, Shankar, Nityanarayan, Dipu, Manchanga, Shishir Lal, and Ganguly, cross the Cumilla-India border to hunt these creatures. They state that while these creatures can be caught year-round, they hide in burrows during winter, making them difficult to capture. During the rainy season, they are harder to catch, but the hunters use their own techniques to extract them. Even during the ongoing monsoon, they are compelled to hunt these creatures for their livelihood. They illegally enter the region 3-4 days a week, capture the creatures, and sell them at wholesale markets in border areas. This has been their ancestral profession. Another member of the group, Santhal youth Rajkumar, states, "For specific reasons, border guards from both countries do not interfere with our profession. Although these creatures fetch high prices, they are relatively easy to catch. They are not as abundant in the hilly areas of Tripura. The few that are available are caught by our women locally, while the men hunt in distant areas." He further adds, "Our group consists of 150-200 people. After selling the hunted creatures to traders, we keep the remaining ones for our own consumption. This is how our lives go on."
To make these communities self-reliant across the southern region of the district, various upazila fisheries departments have undertaken multiple projects. Specifically, around 150 people in this region are involved in this profession.
According to the Laksam Upazila Senior Fisheries Office, 45 individuals from these communities in Laksam are being supported through various projects, alongside efforts to conserve aquatic and forest creatures.
