Khairul Alam: The new tourism season is starting in Sundarbans from today after a three-month ban to protect biodiversity. At the same time, forest dwellers are getting permission to catch fish and crabs in the rivers and canals of Sundarban. Fishermen and tour operators associated with Sundarban tourism have become busy on the Sundarban coast of Satkhira.
From the morning of Friday (September 1), forest dwellers started going to Sundarban with passes (permits from the forest department) from Burigolini forest camp in West Sundarban.
Fishing is closed from July 1 to August 31, 2019, in accordance with the recommendations of the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for the protection of fish resources in the breeding and conservation of natural fish of the World Heritage Sundarbans. All rivers and canals of the World Heritage Sundarbans.
However, from 2021, the Forest Ministry in coordination with the Fisheries Department has extended this period by a month from June 1 to August 31. At the same time, the entry of tourists is closed.
As per the rules, the ban ended yesterday. For this reason, tourists can visit Sundarban, the world’s largest mangrove, from today.
At the same time, fishermen who depend on the forest are also going in search of their livelihood.
KM Anichur Rahman, president of the Sundarban Satkhira Range Tourist Trawler Owners Association, said that many tourists came to visit the Sundarbans in the last three months, but they could not enter the forest. The trawlers sat on the pier for three months.
Due to this they have suffered financial loss. The trawlers were repaired and painted before the start of the current season. From today onwards they will again conduct tourism activities of Sundarban with tourists.
Iqbal Hoshain Chaudhary, assistant conservator of forests, Sundarban West Forest Division, said permits have been issued to fishermen and tourists in the Sundarbans from this morning.
The ban on fishing and tourist entry for three consecutive months has led to an increase in the fish and wildlife population in the Sundarbans as well as an enrichment of forest resources.
He said it would be ensured that tour operators and tourists do not enter the Sundarban forest with plastic products in any way.
Tourist operators have been instructed to conduct tourism while protecting the forest. Instructions have also been given to the designated stations for this.
The number of tourists will increase in Sundarbans in this season. For this reason, apart from building new tourist centers inside the forest, previous places have also been renovated and made suitable for visitors, he said.
Mohammad Belait Hussain, divisional forest officer of the Eastern Sundarban division, said the three-month ban has led to an increase in the reproduction of fish and wildlife in the rivers and canals of the forest, thereby enriching the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.