The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in Bangladesh, reopened for tourists, fishers, wood cutters and honey collectors on Sunday after three months of closure.
The fishermen and wood cutters have already collected the pass to go to the Sundarbans and headed to the forest with their trawlers and boats. Many people were waiting to get a pass at Sarankhola Range Forest Department.
The fishermen were gearing up to enter the Sundarbans once again. Tour operators, launches and boat drivers also completed preparations. Moreover, the fishermen urged the authorities concerned to minimize the restriction to two months instead of three months.
Forest Department sources said the three-month ban on fishing and tourism in the Sundarbans, from June 1 to August 31, was imposed for a safe breeding environment for fish and wild animals. This initiative has been taken since 2019.
Fishermen Alam, Sobhan, Khalil and others said they had to suffer with their family members as they could not catch fish for the last three months. Even they had to take loan on interest. Several hundreds of fishermen went to the Sundarbans on Sunday as the restriction lifted.
Fisheries wholesaler, Jalal Molla, said fishermen with 17 to 18 boats went for fishing in the Sundarbans. They were given Tk 25 lakh in advance for their expenditure. If the weather is favorable, they will be able to catch fishes regularly. They will get sufficient fishes, he hoped.
Secretary of Tour Operator of Sundarbans, Nazmul Azam, said they faced financial loss as there was a tourist ban for three months. They had to manage the living and food for more than 1,500 employees.
The officer-in-charge of Kotka Sanctuary of East Sundarbans Forester Sujit Choudhury said Kotka tourist center has been prepared for the tourists. New jetty house has been built for the tourists.
