The devastating fire that originated in the deep of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, came under control after over 28 hours on Sunday evening.
Firefighters and locals said the fire spread to more than an area of five kilometers and it was still burning the forest till filing of the report at 8:0pm on Sunday.
The fire came under control with joint efforts by the personnel from the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), Bangladesh Navy (BN), Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG)
At first, a 10-member firefighting team, led by Lieutenant Commander Arafatul Arefin of the Navy’s Mongla base started an operation to douse the fire in the morning today.
Deputy Director of Bagerhat Fire Service and Civil Defence Mamun Ahmed said five firefighting units are at the spot. Of these, three units started working and other two units remained standby, he said, adding that a helicopter of the Air Force also joined the operation.
Mamun Ahmed said the fire fighters are facing problems to douse the blaze in the Sundarbans during low tide of the Bhola River, a water source for the firefighters.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans Eastern Division Kazi Mohammad Nurul Karim said due to different adverse situations, works cannot be started in full-fledged to douse the fire.
Works started on Sunday morning to douse the blaze as Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Coast Guard joined the operation with Fire Service and Forest Department, he said.
The Forest Department has formed a three-member probe committee, led by Rana Dev, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Chandpai range of the Sundarbans, to find out the reason of the fire and assess the damages caused by it.
Nurul Karim said the fire originated in Latif’s Chila area near Amurbunia patrol post of the mangrove forest around 3:30pm on Saturday.
Low tide delaying dousing operation
Although the FSCD personnel started dousing operation on Sunday morning in the Sundarbans East Zone’s Amurbunia area the operation faced a setback due to low tide conditions, delaying the water supply.
Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East Zone, stated that logistical challenges prevented the operation from starting sooner. “The Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force joined the Fire Service this morning to accelerate efforts. Local volunteers are also lending significant support,” he reported.
Mamun Ahmed, Deputy Director of Bagerhat Fire Service and Civil Defense, detailed the deployment of additional firefighting units. “Five units from various locations were dispatched to the site this morning, with three from Mongla, Morrelganj, and Shoronkhola actively engaging in the firefighting efforts. The remaining two units are on standby,” he said.
He also noted the challenges posed by the tidal conditions, which have hindered the transportation of necessary equipment such as additional pipes. “The fire is spreading slowly through dry leaves and poses no significant risk at this time,” Ahmed added.
Concerning the origin of the fire, DFO Karim acknowledged that the exact cause is still unknown. “We are considering various reports from locals and have formed a three-member investigation committee led by Assistant Conservator of Forests Rana Dev to determine the cause,” he concluded.
Fire in the Sundarbans is now under control: Environment ministry
The forest fire in Amarbunia camp of Chandpai range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district is now under control.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a statement to this end this afternoon.
It said the fire did not spread to the top of the tree or branches, only spread sporadically above the ground.
Although the fire was under control, firefighting activities would continue for the next few days.
Because the forest fire seems to be extinguished or controlled for the time being, but again at any time it can be created anew and spread, said the statement.
A three-member probe committee has been formed by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), East of Khulna Circle of the Forest Department to investigate the exact cause of the fire.
Apart from the forest department, several units of fire service, navy, police, district administration, upazila administration, public representatives, Community Patrol Guards (CPG), volunteers and local people provided assistance in extinguishing the fire.
Besides, an Air Force helicopter also assisted for extinguishing the fire by sprinkling water from above.
The fire was first reported on Saturday May 4, 2024 at approximately 3.30 pm.
As soon as the incident of fire was reported, the people of the forest department as well as the fire service and other related government agencies reached the spot.
The Forest Department personnel started cutting fire lines around the blaze with the help of local community patrolling groups, village tiger response teams and local people. But due to low tide at that time there was no water in the canal so it was not possible to give water to the fire.
However, the forest department’s own firefighting equipment and water dispenser were brought in at night and it was prepared and set by pipe.
From early Sunday, the forest department workers, fire service, local people,
CPG people started cutting the fire line around the fire place and dousing the fire with water.
Around the place of fire, the work of cutting the fire line covering an area of about five acres is going on.
However, since the fire was spreading underground through the roots of the trees, it has to be extinguished with caution.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury and the Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Farhina Ahmed have been supervising and coordinating the Sundarbans firefighting operations round the clock.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was aware of the matter and is keeping a regular check.
Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury has rushed to the scene of the Sundarbans to supervise the activities on the ground.
