A massive stingray weighing around 600 kilograms was caught in a fishing net off the Teknaf coast in Cox’s Bazar on Friday, drawing large crowds of locals and tourists. The rare marine creature, belonging to the stingray family and locally known as ‘Shapla Pata Maach,’ was hauled ashore with the help of several people after fishermen struggled to lift it onto their trawler. According to local fisheries officials, the stingray is a fully protected species under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, which prohibits its capture, sale, or transport. Despite this, the fish was reportedly sold for 50,000 taka to a local trader. Authorities from the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division have launched an inquiry to determine who purchased and handled the protected animal. Officials warned that violating wildlife protection laws can lead to up to one year in prison or a fine of 100,000 taka. Conservationists have urged stronger enforcement to prevent similar incidents as deep-sea species increasingly appear in shallow waters due to changing ocean conditions.