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MarineLife Alliance is currently investigating the extent of trade in turtle products in Bangladesh. There are many obstacles to effective marine turtle conservation in Bangladesh today, including the lack of enforcement of existing laws. Despite existing protective legislation banning the import, export and trade in marine turtle products, traders continue to operate with impunity. Stuffed, sub-adult specimens of hawksbill turtles were observed on sale at curio shops in the Cox’s Bazar district during December 1999, January 2000 and in January - March 2001. At least six specimens have been sold this year at the time of writing, one of which was sold for between Bangladeshi Taka 1800-3000 (approximately US$35-55). An olive ridley turtle carapace was also found offered for sale at a coastal curio shop for approximately US$10. The primary market for these products is Bangladeshi tourism and even Government officials are alleged to have purchased stuffed marine turtles.

Marine turtle eggs were observed on sale during January 2001 in the local market of Bandarban, a small town situated along the Sangu River in the hill-tract district of Bandarban. Bandarban is situated 35 kms east from the Bay of Bengal coast and between 40-100 kms from the nearest major marine turtle rookeries of Sandwip, Kutubdia, Sonadia Island, Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf peninsular beach. Hence, traders are transporting eggs over relatively large distances to satisfy localised demand. A volunteer for MarineLife Alliance observed approximately 1,500 olive ridley turtle eggs (see front cover) on sale in Bandarban, which had allegedly been collected from the Cox’s Bazar district.

Several marine turtle rookeries, where conservation projects have not yet been established, are currently subject to poaching. Various smuggling points exist in southeastern Bangladesh on the borders of Myanmar and the eastern Indian state of Tripura. Turtle eggs are illegally collected for human consumption from the rookeries of St. Martin and between Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf peninsular beach and sold to Myanmar citizens in the nearby town of Teknaf, apparently one of the most significant smuggling points in southeastern Bangladesh. The author has also heard unconfirmed reports of trade in turtle eggs in Khagrachari and Rangamati, as well as unconfirmed reports of trade in turtle eggs and meat in the city of Chittagong. MarineLife Alliance is unaware of any records of illegal transportation of turtle products by air to or from Bangladesh.

About 85-95% of the Bangladeshi population is Muslim, the remainder made up of Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. Muslims tend not to consume turtle products due to their religious beliefs, but they will trade. The local market tends to be primarily made up of Buddhist tribal communities. Hindu communities also consume turtle products and will trade in turtle products to supplement their income.

Although Bangladesh recently signed the ‘The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Conservation and Management of marine turtles and their habitats of the Indian ocean and south east Asia (Hykle 2000), the Bangladesh Government is not yet meeting its commitments under this MoU.

The marine turtle populations of the Indian Ocean are a shared resource and their continued existence can only be assured if all Indian Ocean range states contribute to their conservation. The author urges the Government of Bangladesh to meet its commitments to this MoU and proactively affect the conservation of Bangladesh marine turtle populations by protecting important marine turtle rookeries and highlighting the plight of Bangladesh’s marine turtles through the popular media.

DAS, I 1989. Sea turtles and coastal habitats in South-Eastern Bangladesh. Project report to the Sea Turtle Rescue Fund/ Center for Marine Conservation, Washington DC.

HYKLE, D. 2000. Indian Ocean – SouthEast Asian Marine Turtle MoU Concluded Under CMS. Marine Turtle Newsletter 90:21-24.