6 houseboats fined and charged in crackdown at Tanguar Haor

A mobile court has filed cases against six tourist houseboats and imposed fines for entering the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) of Tanguar Haor and violating environmental regulations.

The action was taken on Tuesday afternoon during a joint operation conducted by the Sunamganj district administration and the Department of Environment.

The drive was led by Executive Magistrate Sakibur Rahman of the Sunamganj district administration.

Saiful Islam, an inspector at the Department of Environment's Sunamganj office, and members of Tahirpur Police Station also took part in the operation.

During the raid, six tourist houseboats were found operating inside protected areas of Tanguar Haor and were accused of causing environmental pollution.

The mobile court filed six separate cases and imposed a total fine of Tk18,500.

Officials also distributed awareness leaflets among tourists and houseboat operators, urging them to comply with environmental regulations and help protect the wetland.

Earlier, the district administration issued a 13-point emergency directive aimed at protecting Tanguar Haor's ecosystem, biodiversity and ecological balance, while bringing greater discipline to tourism management. The measures include restrictions on tourist houseboats and other vessels entering protected areas, as well as mandatory registration of houseboats.

Mohaiminul Haque, assistant director of the Department of Environment's Sunamganj office, said such enforcement drives would continue regularly to safeguard the environment and biodiversity of Tanguar Haor, an internationally recognised wetland.

Tanguar Haor was designated a Ramsar Site in 2000. It is one of Bangladesh's most important wetlands and provides habitat for a large number of migratory birds, aquatic plants and other wildlife.