The Bangladesh government’s ban on access to the Sundarbans forest has left those who earn their living from the world’s largest stretch of mangroves in hardship amid a lack of promised compensation.
The Forest Department has banned the issuing of passes and permits to enter the Sundarbans for June- August. The move covers fishing, crab and honey harvesting and entry of all tourists to all rivers and canals in this extensive mangrove forest.
According to the recommendations of the Integrated Resources Management Plan for the protection of fish resources in the Sundarbans from 2019, the Forest Department has stopped fishing in all rivers and canals in this forest from June 1 to Aug 31, says the Divisional Forest Officer of East Sundarbans, Muhammad Belayet Hossain.
“The government has taken this step with the aim of increasing fish and other resources, development of biodiversity and increase in reproduction because this is the breeding time,” Hossain told UCA News.
He said those who depend on the Sundarbans for a living will have problems during these three months but they will gain benefits in the remaining months of the year.
In the 6,017-square-kilometer mangrove forest, the watershed accounts for 1,874 square kilometers — a little over 31.15 percent of the entire Sundarbans.
According to the Forest Department, the Sundarbans watershed is a treasure trove of aquatic life. There are 210 species of white fish, 24 species of shrimps and 14 species of crabs. Fish are born in the river channels of the Sundarbans during the breeding season from June to August.
About 600,000 people directly or indirectly associated with the Sundarbans who depend on the area for their livelihood are already facing hardships.
Those associated with the Sundarbans are complaining that the government has not provided any food assistance to them.