5 jailed for selling piranha, catfish

Rapid Action Battalion and Fisheries Department, in a joint-drive, seized a huge amount of piranha and African catfish from the capital's Karwan Bazar yesterday.

Rab Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam also jailed five fish traders from one month to three months. "The traders tell customers that the banned fishes are kind of Rupchanda, and are widely sold at hotels or restaurants," Sarwoer told reporters.

Farming and selling of piranha has been banned in Bangladesh since 2008 as it is considered as a threat to indigenous aquatic life.

With its sharp teeth and voracious appetite for meat, the small freshwater fish of South American origin is a dangerous predator when attacking any animal in a group. A fisheries official said farming, selling and storing piranha and African catfish are punishable offences under the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act.

Rab conducted yesterday's drive based on the information that chemicals are being used on fish at the market.