Staff Reporter:
The Sundarbans will reopen to fishermen, forest-dependent people and tourists on 1 September after a three-month closure, bringing renewed activity to the riverbanks of Bagerhat and Mongla.
Fishermen are busy making final preparations for their return to the forest. Boats that remained idle during the fishing ban are being repaired, tarred and repainted, while nets, ropes, ice containers and other fishing equipment are being readied.
Fishing and harvesting of forest resources in all rivers and canals of the Sundarbans remained closed from 1 June to 31 August to protect fish breeding. Entry of tourists to all tourist spots except the Karamjal Eco-Tourism Centre was also restricted during the period.
Fisherman Md Matin Molla said he had been unable to fish for three months and used the period to repair his boat and equipment.
“If I can enter the Sundarbans from 1 September, I will be able to fish again and support my family,” he said.
Another fisherman, Md Masud Sheikh, said he had completed most of the repairs and was making final preparations.
“We are happy that the Sundarbans are reopening. I want to go to the river with a pass and permit according to the rules,” he said.
The reopening has also brought relief to forest-dependent people, who will again be able to enter the forest to collect forest resources with valid passes and permits.
Tourist spots including Katka, Kachikhali, Harbaria, Hiron Point, Dublar Char and Nilkamal will also reopen from 1 September.
Tourist Md Zulfikar Ali said he was looking forward to visiting the Sundarbans with his family after the long closure.
At Karamjal, preparations are also underway to welcome tourists. Officer-in-Charge of the Sundarban Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre Azad Kabir said several development projects had been implemented to improve visitor facilities.
A nearly one-kilometre foot trail, a suspension bridge and an RCC bridge have been constructed, while an information centre has also been set up to provide visitors with information about the Sundarbans.
“We hope tourist arrivals will increase after the three-month closure. The Forest Department has taken necessary preparations to provide visitors with a safe and pleasant environment,” he said.
Divisional Forest Officer Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said tourists would be allowed to enter the Sundarbans from September 1 and forest-dependent people could enter with the required passes and permits.
He said the fishing ban had been imposed from 1 June to 31 August to protect fish breeding, while tourist access to all spots except Karamjal had remained suspended during the same period.
