Strict Coast Guard watch on sea and river routes

FE Team | Published: February 23, 2026 22:48:37

The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized banned fishing nets, fish and smuggled goods worth about Tk 175.1 billion in 2025.
Since its establishment, the Coast Guard has been playing a vital role in maintaining security and law and order across the country's vast maritime territory, coastal regions and riverbank areas, says a press statement.
Last year, the Coast Guard seized smuggled goods worth over Tk 1.50 billion during its operations in maritime, coastal and riverine areas.
Through special anti-robbery and anti-terrorism operations, the Coast Guard members recovered 203 local and foreign firearms, 380 locally made weapons, 4,668 rounds of live ammunition and 370 rounds of blank ammunition.
During the drives, 1,527 terrorists, robbers, forest bandits and other offenders were arrested, along with 15 human traffickers. At the same time, 297 victims held for trafficking were successfully rescued.
In separate anti-narcotics operations, the Coast Guard arrested 670 drug dealers and seized 3.892 million yaba tablets worth about Tk 1.946 billion, 230 kg of ganja worth Tk 6.9 million, 3,273 bottles of beer and whisky worth Tk 11.1 million, 3 kg of crystal meth (ice) worth Tk 150 million, about 350,000 illegal cigarettes worth Tk 3.5 million, and 26,000 litres of locally produced liquor worth Tk 23.4 million.
In addition, to conserve fisheries resources and increase fish production, the Coast Guard conducted drives and seized about 560,000 kg of jatka (juvenile hilsa), 908.8 million pieces of fry, 174,000 kg of jelly-pushed shrimp, 25.329 billion metres of banned current nets, 528,000 metres of behundi nets and 680 million metres of other illegal nets. These seized items are worth Tk 171.52 billion.
As a result of the Coast Guard's sustained clampdown operations to ensure overall security at the country's ports, piracy in outer anchorage areas has fallen to near zero and the safety rating of the nation's seaports has improved significantly.
In recognition of its outstanding bravery and professional competence, the force received the prestigious Letter of Commendation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) -- the first such honour in Bangladesh's history.