<i>Conch smuggled from Kuakata</i>
Children collecting conches at Kuakata sea beach. Photo: Focus Bangla
Conch collected from beaches in Patuakhali and Barguna and other southern areas is being smuggled out of the country. Collection of the nature's gift is a source of livelihood for many including school children in coastal areas of Kuakata, Sonar Choar, Ruper Char, Fatrar Char, Char Gongmoti in Patuakhali and Asar Char, Pathorghata areas in Barguna districts. But a sizeable portion of the decorative items is smuggled out as they have good markets abroad including some Middle East countries, sources said. A good portion of collected and conch is smuggled to India, Myanmar and Bangkok though the Bay by skipping law enforcing agencies, the sources claimed. Such indiscriminate collection of conch may threaten the ecology in future, the sources said. Conch is used for making fashionable items including ornaments for women like garland, heir clip, ear-ring, key ring and toys. These products are popular at home and abroad. These are also being uses in large scale to produce fish and poultry feed, some traders said while talking to this correspondent. As the items are found in plenty in Patuakhali and Barguna coasts, traders come even from Khulna, who buy those mainly for smuggling through the border, some local traders claimed. The peak season for collection of the items is from June to October marine resources experts and fishermen said. Conch is found in large quantities in Kuakata where the beach is wider than in other areas of the country, they said. Collection of cockles is banned under the Forest Act, which is unknown to the collectors and traders. Housewife Amena Begum of Majhibari area in Kuakata said she sells a sack of conch at Tk 70 to 80 to traders from Khulna. “I can collect two to three sacks of conch a day”, she said. This is also a source of earning for school children to add to their family budget. Mohibul, a student of class five, Fatima of class three, Abia of class two said they collect the items during low tide. “ I can collect about one sack of conch a day”, Mohibul said. Pijush Kanti Hori, former chairman of Geology Department of Patuakhali Government College, said cockles make the beach hard. The sand layer will be soft and risky if the random collection continues, he added. Some locals said conch and cockles are smuggled through trawlers mainly at night. On September 14, forest guards in a drive seized over 100 sacks of conch from a mechanised trawler. A general diary was recorded with Mohipur police camp, police source said.
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