The door of the Sundarbans is closed for 92 days, forest dwellers are returning with concern!
The gates of the Sundarbans will be closed for three months from June 1 to protect the migration and breeding of wild animals and fish in the rivers and canals. During this time, the entry of tourists, the movement of common people, and fishing in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans will be prohibited.
Fishermen, Bawalis and Mouals, known as foresters of the coastal region, have started returning to their localities from the Sundarbans. However, they are worried about how to run the family during the long 92-day ban until August 31. The foresters say that the government assistance given to them during the closure days is insufficient compared to the demand. They demand to increase the allocation of government assistance.
According to the information of the forest department, fishing in all rivers and canals is closed from June 1 to August 31 every year from 2019 to protect the fish resources of Sundarbans. In the 6 thousand 17 square kilometers Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans, the watershed is 1 thousand 874.1 square kilometers, which is 31.15 percent of the entire Sundarbans area. There are 210 species of white fish, 24 species of shrimps, 14 species of crabs in the waters of Sundarbans. June to August – During this three month breeding season, most of the fish in the rivers and canals of Sundarbans lay their eggs. For this reason, the forest department has stopped all types of permission for fishermen to enter the Sundarbans for 92 days from June 1.
On Tuesday morning, on the banks of Kapotaksh and Shakbaria rivers of Koira upazila near Sundarbans of Khulna, it was seen that hundreds of fishing boats have returned to the locality from Sundarbans. Fishermen are busy removing fishing nets and other goods from the boat. Some are again putting the boats up on the embankment road for repairs.
Forester Akram Hossain of Koira village No. 4 near Sundarbans said that he returned to the locality in the morning after fishing in the rivers and canals of Sundarbans for six consecutive days. Couldn’t catch much fish. There is no money saved to run the family during the next 92 days of closure. You are in danger with this.
Riyasad Ali, general secretary of Sundarban Region Co-Management Committee, said that till Tuesday morning, more than 1,000 Koira foresters have returned to the locality from Sundarbans by boat. He said, other fishing boats are also expected to return by Wednesday afternoon. Entry to Sundarbans is prohibited for three months. Fisherman, Bawali, tourist cannot enter Sundarbans. In such a situation, he demanded to provide government assistance to fishermen, bawali, people related to tourism.
According to forest department sources, 2 thousand 900 boats have BLC (Boat License Certificate) to enter Sundarban under Khulna range including Baniakhali, Kashiabad, Kobadak Forest Station in Koira. According to the information of the Upazila Fisheries Officer’s office, there are 13 thousand 526 registered fishermen in Koira. During the ban, these fishermen were given 86 kg of rice in 3 months under the VGF programme.
However, local foresters say that the number of fishermen in Koira is much higher than the official estimate. Especially some parts of Koira Sadar, Maharajpur, Maheshwaripur, North Bedkashi and South Bedkashi Union are inhabited by people dependent on Sundarbans due to geographical reasons. At least 50,000 fishermen families live in these areas, who have been foresters for generations. They earn their livelihood by catching fish and crabs in the rivers and streams adjacent to the Sundarbans throughout the year.
A fisherman named Mohammad Abul Hossain of Gobra area said that the cyclone hit Mokha a few days ago. Then he returned home as the water in the rivers and canals of Sundarbans increased. Sundarbans will be closed for 92 days from June 1. Everything in between costs extra. The assistance provided by the government during the shutdown is not enough. The coming days will be very difficult.
Foresters say that during the 92-day ban in previous years, the Sundarbans sanctuary was occupied by the influential fish merchant Mahajan Chakra. Taking advantage of the absence of ordinary fishermen and bawalis, they ‘manage’ unscrupulous forest guards to hunt deer and poison fish in rivers and canals. The foresters demand that the forest department should be strict to stop these activities during the closure season.
Abdul Hakim, officer-in-charge of Kalabagi Ecotourism Center of Sundarbans, said that the main purpose of blocking access to Sundarbans for three months is to increase fish breeding. As a result, the travel of visitors to all the tourist centers of Sundarbans will be closed. Because, during this time, if the tourist boats move in the river and canal, the fish breeding will be disturbed.
Shyama Prasad Roy, Officer-in-Charge of Kashiabad Forest Station in Sundarbans, said that along with the ban on fishing in all the rivers and canals of Sundarbans, the entry of tourists has also been banned. All types of pass-permits to enter the Sundarbans have been stopped. During this time, the forest department will take a strict stand to stop hunting wild animals and fishing with poison.
Shyama Prasad Roy said, “We have decided that departmental action will be taken against the forest officials in charge of the area of Sundarbans where the criminals are detained by the law enforcement agency after catching fish and crabs due to dereliction of duty.”
Source: https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/ruovcbjoxu